IT Support for the Pharmacy Industry
A pharmacy combines a retail counter with a clinical service, and both sides depend on IT that does not fail. When a till goes down you lose a sale. When the internet goes down you cannot reach the NHS spine, and you cannot dispense at all.
QLine IT has worked with several pharmacy groups and understands the specific pressures pharmacies face, from NHS smartcard security to printer redundancy to GDPR obligations that go beyond a typical retail business. Contracts start from £115 a month for five computers.
Some of the IT challenges for a pharmacy are:
Online EPOS solutions
Computer security + NHS cards
Importance of printers
Internet connectivity with failover
Increased data protection
Mobile device security
Online EPOS and Stock Systems
Most pharmacies now run on a dedicated EPOS system built for the sector, handling till functions, stock levels and supplier ordering in one place. For pharmacies with more than one site, price updates, ordering and end of day sales can be centralised through a single online portal. QLine IT has supported a range of EPOS systems and can provide the hardware and networking behind them.
Computer security, including NHS smartcards
Prescription data is highly confidential, so access must be limited and monitored. NHS smartcards, VPNs and static IP allocation all need to be in place and working properly. QLine IT’s experience in the children’s homes sector, where data security requirements are similarly strict, carries directly across into pharmacy work.
We provide smartcard readers, the software behind them and the procedures to keep patient data protected.
Printers That Cannot Afford to Fail
Printers are easy to overlook until they stop working. Label printers are needed for dispensing medicines, and A4 printers are needed for tokens and prescriptions. If either fails, the pharmacy cannot dispense, which can put the pharmacy’s licence at risk.
We treat every printer fault call as high priority, and recommend built in printer redundancy so a single fault never stops the counter.
Internet Connectivity with Failover
Prescription services are browser based, so when the internet fails, access to the NHS spine fails with it. QLine IT partners with Teltonika to provide fibre and 4G failover, so if the main line drops, a 4G connection takes over within seconds. Add a VPN for a static IP, which the NHS spine requires, and the pharmacy stays online. More on our 4G backup solution.
Increased Data Protection
Pharmacies sit under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act, and the NHS adds its own requirements on top. Access must be controlled, and safeguards must be in place for theft or break in.
QLine IT implements encryption and two factor authentication on computer access, and keeps the network, router and Wi-Fi monitored in real time.
Mobile device security (MDM)
Pharmacies handle large volumes of medication on site and in transit, often tracked through mobile phones, inventory apps and barcode scanners. QLine IT’s mobile device management restricts what can be added to these devices, blocks unauthorised app installation, prevents data export and provides real time location tracking, which also supports GDPR compliance.
IT Solutions
Talk to QLine IT about IT support built around the pressures a pharmacy actually faces. Contracts start from £115 a month for five computers.