Liverpool secure digital signature specialist E-Sign partners with Icelandic tech firm Thula to help the NHS transform the management of controlled drugs. Tony McDonough reports

Digital signature specialist E-Sign is to partner with Icelandic tech firm Thula on a project to transform the management of controlled drugs in the NHS.

This deal will see E-Sign’s advanced electronic signature technology integrated into Thula’s ALFA controlled drug module. It will provide a closed-loop and fully paperless process for the management of controlled drugs in the NHS.

The system will ensure compliance with UK legislation and elevates governance when managing controlled drugs.

Collectively it will eliminate paper-based registers, digitise prescription management and ward orders, resolve and detect discrepancies, improve workflows and provide an overview of all aspects of controlled drug management.

The system is expected to be implemented later this year, leading to significant time and efficiency gains for both patients and the NHS.

A testing programme is already under way which will collect data on the benefits of the new system – from the time savings for hospitals and pharmacies to manage controlled drugs through to the cost, supporting NHS Net Zero.

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Thula chose E-Sign because it is an advanced electronic signature technology, with their data being held securely in the UK – a requirement for the NHS under UK law.

Thomas Taylor, managing director of E-Sign said: “We are hugely excited to be working with Thula on such a significant project to help the NHS build a solid digital infrastructure.

“This will free up resources, lighten the load on the environment and boost the quality of services that patients receive.”