Implementation guide for interoperable medicines

This guidance is under active development by NHS England and content may be added or updated on a regular basis.

Outpatient Discharge / Carrie Oakey

Patient Journey: Carrie Oakley

  1. Carrie has attended the dermatology outpatients clinic and is prescribed Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream to be applied twice daily for 2 weeks. The ePMA system sends a MedicationRequest is sent to pharmacy [Example 1].
  2. The hospital pharmacy dispenses and returns a MedicationDispense [Example 2] to the ePMA system.

Example #1: MedicationRequest

Note: Example validated against UKCore, dm+d and SNOMED-CT on 23 May 2025.

Actors

Provider System = Outpatient EPMA system

Consumer System = Hospital pharmacy system

Example

<Bundle xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir">
<id value="8b79e3a6-bff4-44c1-8924-63786afd6412" />
<type value="message" />
<timestamp value="2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00" />
<fullUrl value="urn:message-header-167434" />
<MessageHeader>
<id value="urn:message-header-167434" />
<system value="https://fhir.hl7.org.uk//CodeSystem/message-event" />
<code value="prescription-order" />
<display value="Prescription Order" />
</eventCoding>
<name value="ACME Clinical Systems" />
<software value="ACME ePMA" />
<version value="3.5.68" />
<endpoint value="urn:nhs-uk:addressing:ods:T48NT" />
</source>
<reference value="urn:med-req-56745612" />
</focus>
</MessageHeader>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:patient-748395739" />
<Patient>
<id value="urn:patient-748395739" />
<system value="https://fhir.nhs.uk/Id/nhs-number" />
<value value="748395739" />
</identifier>
<use value="official" />
<text value="Miss Carrie Oakey" />
<family value="Oakey" />
<given value="Carrie" />
<prefix value="Miss" />
</name>
<gender value="male" />
<birthDate value="1977-06-04" />
</Patient>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:staff-0001" />
<Practitioner>
<id value="urn:staff-0001" />
<text value="Dr Justin Thyme" />
<family value="Thyme" />
<given value="Justin" />
<prefix value="Dr" />
</name>
<system value="https://fhir.hl7.org.uk/Id/gmc-number" />
<code value="2145879" />
<display value="General Medical Council" />
</coding>
</code>
</qualification>
</Practitioner>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:medication-374372000" />
<Medication>
<id value="urn:medication-374372000" />
<system value="http://snomed.info/sct" />
<code value="41893111000001108" />
<display value="Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream" />
</coding>
</code>
</Medication>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:med-req-56745612" />
<MedicationRequest>
<id value="urn:med-req-56745612" />
<status value="active" />
<intent value="order" />
<system value="http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/medicationrequest-category" />
<code value="outpatient" />
<display value="outpatient" />
</coding>
</category>
<priority value="routine" />
<reference value="urn:medication-374372000" />
<display value="Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream" />
</medicationReference>
<reference value="urn:patient-748395739" />
<display value="Miss Carrie Oakey" />
</subject>
<authoredOn value="2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00" />
<reference value="urn:staff-0001" />
<display value="Dr Justin Thyme" />
</requester>
<duration value="2" />
<durationUnit value="wk" />
<frequency value="2" />
<period value="1" />
<periodUnit value="d" />
</repeat>
</timing>
<system value="http://snomed.info/sct" />
<code value="417924000" />
<display value="Apply" />
</coding>
</method>
</dosageInstruction>
<allowedBoolean value="false" />
</substitution>
</MedicationRequest>
</resource>
</entry>
</Bundle>
{
"resourceType": "Bundle",
"id": "8b79e3a6-bff4-44c1-8924-63786afd6412",
"type": "message",
"timestamp": "2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00",
"entry": [
{
"fullUrl": "urn:message-header-167434",
"resourceType": "MessageHeader",
"id": "urn:message-header-167434",
"system": "https://fhir.hl7.org.uk//CodeSystem/message-event",
"code": "prescription-order",
"display": "Prescription Order"
},
"source": {
"name": "ACME Clinical Systems",
"software": "ACME ePMA",
"version": "3.5.68",
"endpoint": "urn:nhs-uk:addressing:ods:T48NT"
},
"focus": [
{
"reference": "urn:med-req-56745612"
}
]
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:patient-748395739",
"resourceType": "Patient",
"id": "urn:patient-748395739",
{
"system": "https://fhir.nhs.uk/Id/nhs-number",
"value": "748395739"
}
],
"name": [
{
"use": "official",
"text": "Miss Carrie Oakey",
"family": "Oakey",
"given": [
"Carrie"
],
"prefix": [
"Miss"
]
}
],
"gender": "male",
"birthDate": "1977-06-04"
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:staff-0001",
"resourceType": "Practitioner",
"id": "urn:staff-0001",
"name": [
{
"text": "Dr Justin Thyme",
"family": "Thyme",
"given": [
"Justin"
],
"prefix": [
"Dr"
]
}
],
{
"code": {
"coding": [
{
"system": "https://fhir.hl7.org.uk/Id/gmc-number",
"code": "2145879",
"display": "General Medical Council"
}
]
}
}
]
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:medication-374372000",
"resourceType": "Medication",
"id": "urn:medication-374372000",
"code": {
"coding": [
{
"system": "http://snomed.info/sct",
"code": "41893111000001108",
"display": "Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream"
}
]
}
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:med-req-56745612",
"resourceType": "MedicationRequest",
"id": "urn:med-req-56745612",
"status": "active",
"intent": "order",
{
"coding": [
{
"system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/medicationrequest-category",
"code": "outpatient",
"display": "outpatient"
}
]
}
],
"priority": "routine",
"reference": "urn:medication-374372000",
"display": "Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream"
},
"subject": {
"reference": "urn:patient-748395739",
"display": "Miss Carrie Oakey"
},
"authoredOn": "2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00",
"reference": "urn:staff-0001",
"display": "Dr Justin Thyme"
},
{
"timing": {
"repeat": {
"duration": 2,
"durationUnit": "wk",
"frequency": 2,
"period": 1,
"periodUnit": "d"
}
},
"method": {
"coding": [
{
"system": "http://snomed.info/sct",
"code": "417924000",
"display": "Apply"
}
]
}
}
],
}
}
}
]
}
Bundle.id[0]8b79e3a6-bff4-44c1-8924-63786afd6412
Bundle.type[0]message
Bundle.timestamp[0]2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00
Bundle.entry[0].fullUrl[0]urn:message-header-167434
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].id[0]urn:message-header-167434
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].event[0].system[0]https://fhir.hl7.org.uk//CodeSystem/message-event
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].event[0].code[0]prescription-order
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].event[0].display[0]Prescription Order
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].source[0].name[0]ACME Clinical Systems
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].source[0].software[0]ACME ePMA
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].source[0].version[0]3.5.68
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].source[0].endpoint[0]urn:nhs-uk:addressing:ods:T48NT
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].focus[0].reference[0]urn:med-req-56745612
Bundle.entry[1].fullUrl[0]urn:patient-748395739
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].id[0]urn:patient-748395739
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].identifier[0].system[0]https://fhir.nhs.uk/Id/nhs-number
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].identifier[0].value[0]748395739
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].use[0]official
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].text[0]Miss Carrie Oakey
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].family[0]Oakey
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].given[0]Carrie
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].prefix[0]Miss
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].gender[0]male
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].birthDate[0]1977-06-04
Bundle.entry[2].fullUrl[0]urn:staff-0001
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].id[0]urn:staff-0001
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].text[0]Dr Justin Thyme
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].family[0]Thyme
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].given[0]Justin
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].prefix[0]Dr
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].qualification[0].code[0].coding[0].system[0]https://fhir.hl7.org.uk/Id/gmc-number
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].qualification[0].code[0].coding[0].code[0]2145879
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].qualification[0].code[0].coding[0].display[0]General Medical Council
Bundle.entry[3].fullUrl[0]urn:medication-374372000
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].id[0]urn:medication-374372000
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].code[0].coding[0].system[0]http://snomed.info/sct
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].code[0].coding[0].code[0]41893111000001108
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].code[0].coding[0].display[0]Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream
Bundle.entry[4].fullUrl[0]urn:med-req-56745612
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].id[0]urn:med-req-56745612
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].status[0]active
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].intent[0]order
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].category[0].coding[0].system[0]http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/medicationrequest-category
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].category[0].coding[0].code[0]outpatient
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].category[0].coding[0].display[0]outpatient
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].priority[0]routine
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].medication[0].reference[0]urn:medication-374372000
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].medication[0].display[0]Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].subject[0].reference[0]urn:patient-748395739
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].subject[0].display[0]Miss Carrie Oakey
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].authoredOn[0]2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].requester[0].reference[0]urn:staff-0001
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].requester[0].display[0]Dr Justin Thyme
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].duration[0]2
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].durationUnit[0]wk
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].frequency[0]2
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].period[0]1
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].periodUnit[0]d
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].method[0].coding[0].system[0]http://snomed.info/sct
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].method[0].coding[0].code[0]417924000
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].method[0].coding[0].display[0]Apply
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].substitution[0].allowed[0]False
Bundle

Example #2: MedicationDispense

Note: Example validated against UKCore, dm+d and SNOMED-CT on 23 May 2025.

Actors

Provider System = Hospital pharmacy system

Consumer System = Outpatient EPMA system

Example

<Bundle xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir">
<id value="317590f8-ba1f-4583-a4e3-2c61cb2308a4" />
<type value="message" />
<timestamp value="2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00" />
<fullUrl value="urn:message-header-167434" />
<MessageHeader>
<id value="urn:message-header-167434" />
<system value="http://hl7.org/fhir/message-events" />
<code value="individual-requirements-1" />
<display value="Individual Requirements" />
</eventCoding>
<endpoint value="urn:nhs-uk:addressing:ods:T48NT" />
</source>
<reference value="urn:medication-disp-1231253" />
</focus>
</MessageHeader>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:patient-748395739" />
<Patient>
<id value="urn:patient-748395739" />
<system value="https://fhir.nhs.uk/Id/nhs-number" />
<value value="748395739" />
</identifier>
<use value="official" />
<text value="Miss Carrie Oakey" />
<family value="Oakey" />
<given value="Carrie" />
<prefix value="Miss" />
</name>
<gender value="male" />
<birthDate value="1977-06-04" />
</Patient>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:staff-0002" />
<Practitioner>
<id value="urn:staff-0002" />
<text value="Dr Allo Kate" />
<family value="Kate" />
<given value="Allo" />
<prefix value="Dr" />
</name>
<system value="https://fhir.hl7.org.uk/Id/gpc-number" />
<code value="123543" />
<display value="General Pharmaceutical Council" />
</coding>
</code>
</qualification>
</Practitioner>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:medication-15053011000001100" />
<Medication>
<id value="urn:medication-15053011000001100" />
<system value="http://snomed.info/sct" />
<code value="15053011000001100" />
<display value="Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc)" />
</coding>
</code>
</Medication>
</resource>
</entry>
<fullUrl value="urn:medication-disp-1231253" />
<MedicationDispense>
<id value="urn:medication-disp-1231253" />
<system value="urn:[organisation_name]:[system_name]" />
<value value="urn:2e9c6fe6-77ec-4da0-937a-ba97b5501b3f" />
</identifier>
<status value="in-progress" />
<system value="http://hl7.org/fhir/medication-request-category" />
<code value="outpatient" />
<display value="outpatient" />
</coding>
</category>
<reference value="urn:medication-15053011000001100" />
<display value="Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc)" />
</medicationReference>
<reference value="urn:patient-748395739" />
<display value="Miss Carrie Oakey" />
</subject>
<reference value="urn:staff-0002" />
<display value="Dr Allo Kate" />
</actor>
</performer>
<reference value="urn:med-req-342355475687898" />
</authorizingPrescription>
<value value="30" />
<unit value="gram" />
<system value="http://unitsofmeasure.org" />
<code value="g" />
</quantity>
<whenPrepared value="2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00" />
<duration value="2" />
<durationUnit value="wk" />
<frequency value="2" />
<period value="1" />
<periodUnit value="d" />
</repeat>
</timing>
<system value="http://snomed.info/sct" />
<code value="417924000" />
<display value="Apply" />
</coding>
</method>
</dosageInstruction>
</MedicationDispense>
</resource>
</entry>
</Bundle>
{
"resourceType": "Bundle",
"id": "317590f8-ba1f-4583-a4e3-2c61cb2308a4",
"type": "message",
"timestamp": "2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00",
"entry": [
{
"fullUrl": "urn:message-header-167434",
"resourceType": "MessageHeader",
"id": "urn:message-header-167434",
"system": "http://hl7.org/fhir/message-events",
"code": "individual-requirements-1",
"display": "Individual Requirements"
},
"source": {
"endpoint": "urn:nhs-uk:addressing:ods:T48NT"
},
"focus": [
{
"reference": "urn:medication-disp-1231253"
}
]
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:patient-748395739",
"resourceType": "Patient",
"id": "urn:patient-748395739",
{
"system": "https://fhir.nhs.uk/Id/nhs-number",
"value": "748395739"
}
],
"name": [
{
"use": "official",
"text": "Miss Carrie Oakey",
"family": "Oakey",
"given": [
"Carrie"
],
"prefix": [
"Miss"
]
}
],
"gender": "male",
"birthDate": "1977-06-04"
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:staff-0002",
"resourceType": "Practitioner",
"id": "urn:staff-0002",
"name": [
{
"text": "Dr Allo Kate",
"family": "Kate",
"given": [
"Allo"
],
"prefix": [
"Dr"
]
}
],
{
"code": {
"coding": [
{
"system": "https://fhir.hl7.org.uk/Id/gpc-number",
"code": "123543",
"display": "General Pharmaceutical Council"
}
]
}
}
]
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:medication-15053011000001100",
"resourceType": "Medication",
"id": "urn:medication-15053011000001100",
"code": {
"coding": [
{
"system": "http://snomed.info/sct",
"code": "15053011000001100",
"display": "Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc)"
}
]
}
}
},
{
"fullUrl": "urn:medication-disp-1231253",
"resourceType": "MedicationDispense",
"id": "urn:medication-disp-1231253",
{
"system": "urn:[organisation_name]:[system_name]",
"value": "urn:2e9c6fe6-77ec-4da0-937a-ba97b5501b3f"
}
],
"status": "in-progress",
"coding": [
{
"system": "http://hl7.org/fhir/medication-request-category",
"code": "outpatient",
"display": "outpatient"
}
]
},
"reference": "urn:medication-15053011000001100",
"display": "Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc)"
},
"subject": {
"reference": "urn:patient-748395739",
"display": "Miss Carrie Oakey"
},
{
"actor": {
"reference": "urn:staff-0002",
"display": "Dr Allo Kate"
}
}
],
{
"reference": "urn:med-req-342355475687898"
}
],
"value": 30,
"unit": "gram",
"system": "http://unitsofmeasure.org",
"code": "g"
},
"whenPrepared": "2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00",
{
"timing": {
"repeat": {
"duration": 2,
"durationUnit": "wk",
"frequency": 2,
"period": 1,
"periodUnit": "d"
}
},
"method": {
"coding": [
{
"system": "http://snomed.info/sct",
"code": "417924000",
"display": "Apply"
}
]
}
}
]
}
}
]
}
Bundle.id[0]317590f8-ba1f-4583-a4e3-2c61cb2308a4
Bundle.type[0]message
Bundle.timestamp[0]2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00
Bundle.entry[0].fullUrl[0]urn:message-header-167434
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].id[0]urn:message-header-167434
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].event[0].system[0]http://hl7.org/fhir/message-events
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].event[0].code[0]individual-requirements-1
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].event[0].display[0]Individual Requirements
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].source[0].endpoint[0]urn:nhs-uk:addressing:ods:T48NT
Bundle.entry[0].resource[0].focus[0].reference[0]urn:medication-disp-1231253
Bundle.entry[1].fullUrl[0]urn:patient-748395739
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].id[0]urn:patient-748395739
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].identifier[0].system[0]https://fhir.nhs.uk/Id/nhs-number
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].identifier[0].value[0]748395739
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].use[0]official
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].text[0]Miss Carrie Oakey
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].family[0]Oakey
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].given[0]Carrie
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].name[0].prefix[0]Miss
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].gender[0]male
Bundle.entry[1].resource[0].birthDate[0]1977-06-04
Bundle.entry[2].fullUrl[0]urn:staff-0002
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].id[0]urn:staff-0002
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].text[0]Dr Allo Kate
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].family[0]Kate
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].given[0]Allo
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].name[0].prefix[0]Dr
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].qualification[0].code[0].coding[0].system[0]https://fhir.hl7.org.uk/Id/gpc-number
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].qualification[0].code[0].coding[0].code[0]123543
Bundle.entry[2].resource[0].qualification[0].code[0].coding[0].display[0]General Pharmaceutical Council
Bundle.entry[3].fullUrl[0]urn:medication-15053011000001100
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].id[0]urn:medication-15053011000001100
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].code[0].coding[0].system[0]http://snomed.info/sct
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].code[0].coding[0].code[0]15053011000001100
Bundle.entry[3].resource[0].code[0].coding[0].display[0]Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc)
Bundle.entry[4].fullUrl[0]urn:medication-disp-1231253
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].id[0]urn:medication-disp-1231253
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].identifier[0].system[0]urn:[organisation_name]:[system_name]
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].identifier[0].value[0]urn:2e9c6fe6-77ec-4da0-937a-ba97b5501b3f
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].status[0]in-progress
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].category[0].coding[0].system[0]http://hl7.org/fhir/medication-request-category
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].category[0].coding[0].code[0]outpatient
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].category[0].coding[0].display[0]outpatient
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].medication[0].reference[0]urn:medication-15053011000001100
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].medication[0].display[0]Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc)
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].subject[0].reference[0]urn:patient-748395739
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].subject[0].display[0]Miss Carrie Oakey
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].performer[0].actor[0].reference[0]urn:staff-0002
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].performer[0].actor[0].display[0]Dr Allo Kate
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].authorizingPrescription[0].reference[0]urn:med-req-342355475687898
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].quantity[0].value[0]30
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].quantity[0].unit[0]gram
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].quantity[0].system[0]http://unitsofmeasure.org
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].quantity[0].code[0]g
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].whenPrepared[0]2021-05-07T16:15:32+00:00
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].duration[0]2
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].durationUnit[0]wk
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].frequency[0]2
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].period[0]1
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].timing[0].repeat[0].periodUnit[0]d
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].method[0].coding[0].system[0]http://snomed.info/sct
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].method[0].coding[0].code[0]417924000
Bundle.entry[4].resource[0].dosageInstruction[0].method[0].coding[0].display[0]Apply
Bundle

back to top