12 May 2026

Nursing teams are being advised of an upcoming change to how medication orders are processed via EPMA, which will take effect from the beginning of June 2026. 

Following approval by the Trust Drug and Therapeutics Committee, and the successful pilots at Longmoor House and Mossley Hill Hospital, the nurse ordering functionality within EPMA will be switched off across remaining wards. This change aligns practice across the Trust and supports more efficient medicines management reducing wastage and supporting the Green Plan. 

What is changing?  

Currently, apart from wards at Mossley Hill and Longmoor House, nurses are able to push through medication orders via EPMA when stock is not available on the ward. From June 2026, this functionality will be updated. 

How will nurses request medication? 

Going forward: 

  • Nurses will no longer be required to order medications via the EPMA “Order Medicines” tab 

  • Nursing staff will still be able to request named patient (non‑stock) medication using a new SharePoint medication ordering form, available via YourSpace which will be reviewed and ordered by Medicines Management colleagues. 

  • Approval of medication orders will sit with Medicines Management staff 

  • Stock medication ordering arrangements will remain unchanged 

All requests submitted through the form will be reviewed and approved by the Medicines Management team. The process for ordering stock items will remain the same.  

Training and support 

User guides and a short training video explaining how to use the new SharePoint form will be shared ahead of rollout. Further communications and engagement sessions will be arranged to: 

  • introduce the new process 

  • provide practical support 

  • answer questions from teams 

Why is this change being made? 

Restricting EPMA ordering to Medicines Management staff will: 

  • optimise medication orders 

  • improve efficiency 

  • reduce waste 

Nursing leads are asked to ensure this information is cascaded to their teams. 

For further information or questions, please contact your Medicines Management clinical services lead pharmacist: 

Secure services  
steve.clark@merseycare.nhs.uk  

Inpatient services  
sandra.taylor@merseycare.nhs.uk or leticia.bernal@merseycare.nhs.uk   

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