System suppliers have pledged to release updated and improved versions of their new medicine service (NMS) modules after pharmacists reported limitations with some of the existing software.

Cegedim Rx, Rx Systems, Positive Solutions and AAH all confirmed that they were continuing to develop their IT solutions to help pharmacists in England deliver the NMS and stressed that they had been working to "tight timescales" prior to launching their first versions.

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"We were issued a very short timescale to deliver everything, so a few teething issues were to be expected and we are working to eliminate these," said AAH director of marketing Leon Rudd. Suppliers received specifications for the service in August, ahead of the launch in October. "It would have been better if we had had the specification much earlier," agreed Martin Jones, commercial manager at Positive Solutions.

All suppliers said they had received positive feedback on the NMS systems. And Rx Systems added that it was working to improve its system after pharmacists reported it had been over-alerting and suggesting all patients on new medicine strengths might be eligible for the service. The supplier is also working to update its ProScript system so that it can produce quarterly NMS reports for PCTs.

Cegedim Rx is developing its Nexphase and Pharmacy Manager system to include an improved on-screen prompt and the option to print a label for patients eligible for the NMS, by early 2012. And Positive Solutions plans to release a new version of its module in February.

PSNC has reported "thousands" of interventions recorded on PharmaBase, its software for capturing evidence of pharmacy interventions, and PMR systems in the six weeks since the NMS went live. It estimates 70 per cent of pharmacies are ready to provide the service.

"We're way ahead of where we were six weeks after the launch of MURs," said PSNC head of NHS services Alastair Buxton. "The multiples have been able to roll out the NMS very quickly, as have a large number of independents."

Read the interviews with the system suppliers at chemistanddruggist.co.uk/itzone