Guidance on the Pharmacy Care Record (PCR)

Important update: Please see the ePharmacy Certificate Renewal section below for details on renewing and installing ePharmacy certificates. Action is required by 25 August 2026.

This section provides details and guidance on the Pharmacy Care Record (PCR) - and how to gain access.

The PCR provides registered community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with the capability to record details of a patient’s care.

It can be accessed from supported browsers on a PC and is also available on some mobile devices.

This functionality is a key part of the delivery of Medicines Care & Review (MCR) and allows users to record care provided at the patient’s registered Community Pharmacy (CP).

What are the key capabilities of the Pharmacy Care Record?

The key capabilities of the PCR are:

• search for and add patient (incl. CHI lookup)
• pharmaceutical care plan (patient profile, gluten-free diet, care issues and outcomes, Stage 1 and 2 medication review, and adding medication/importing from PMR)
• high risk medicine (including care risk assessments for high-risk medicines)
• new medicine (including new medicines intervention support tool)
• support tools (gluten-free foods annual health check, smoking cessation)
• Situation, Background, Assessment & Recommendation (SBAR) communication methods
• pharmacy home (summary totals with links to detailed information)
• reports.

Pharmacists have full access to all functions in the PCR, whilst pharmacy technicians have restricted access to smoking cessation and gluten-free support tool functions.

You must have a SWAN connection to login to the Pharmacy Care Record.

Visit the Pharmacy Care Record (PCRUA) Association website to log-in.

Login to the Pharmacy Care Record (PCR).

PCRUA Windows Client for Community Pharmacies

In May 2021, Microsoft provided further details relating to the future of Internet Explorer on Windows and reiterating that the Microsoft Edge browser will replace Internet Explorer. Thus, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022. They also said that Internet Explorer could be prevented from operating on new version of Windows any time after 15th June 2022.

The current PCR User Association (PCRUA) web page is reliant on Internet Explorer to provide the security aspects of the user association functionality. While the Microsoft Edge web browser will have an Internet Explorer mode, it is not clear if this will fully support the functionality for PCRUA. It is also not clear how long the Internet Explorer emulation mode will be supported in Microsoft Edge.

To mitigate the removal of Internet Explorer an alternative solution is available. The new solution makes use of a locally installed application (PCRUA Windows Client) instead of a web browser to access the PCRUA website.

A member of the Pharmacy staff will need to download and install the ‘PCRUA Windows Client’ application. The application must be installed on the same PC as the ePharmacy certificate management tool (CMT). This is usually located on the ‘main’ server PC. Pharmacies that are part of a larger ‘multiple’ group should have the application automatically installed by their IT department.

To find out more on how to download, install and use the PCRUA Windows Client application, visit the following webpage (note this webpage is only accessible from community pharmacy locations). Once on this page click each of headings to expand the text.

PCR Association error 116

PCR association requires software called CAPICom to be installed on the main/server computer.

If CAPICom is not installed this will trigger error 116 when associating. If this error is present, CAPICom can be downloaded.

Download CAPICom for PCR association.

Pharmacy Care Record User Guide Version 17.0.0

The updated PCR user guide covers all functions up to and including PCR version 17.0.0

Find out more about using the Pharmacy Care Record by downloading the latest user guide.

What's New in Version 17.0.0

Find out what's new in version 17.0.0 here

ePharmacy Certificate Renewal – Action Required by 25 August 2026

The current ePharmacy root certificate is due to expire on 14 September 2026. To ensure continued access to ePharmacy services, all affected ePharmacy certificates must be renewed and installed by Tuesday 25 August 2026.

Why this is important

Moreover, it's important to note that without this certificate, ePharmacy messaging will not function properly. This means that you will be unable to submit claims or request prescriptions electronically. Consequently, no payment claims for electronic-only services can be processed. This situation will directly impact Pharmacy reimbursement as well as overall usability.

There will also be some impact on PCR access, but it is expected to be less significant compared to the disruption in EPMS messaging. We encourage you to take the necessary steps to ensure the new certificate is installed promptly.

Do I need to take action?

• Boots, Well and Rowlands – Your IT Department will manage the renewal.
• Rx Web – Lanas - will handle the certificates for ePMS access and messaging. However, the client certificates for PCR UA need to be installed on the local desktop and are specific to each pharmacy.
• Cegedim Rx Pharmacy Manager - The central message broker will have their certificate renewed by the central Cegedim team.
• Positive Solutions and Proscript - users are required to follow their usual process and the outlined details in the PIN letter sent for certificate renewal.
• Superdrug – Your PMR supplier will assist in your certificate renewal
• Asda - Your PMR supplier will assist with your certificate renewal

If you are not included in one of the groups above, please follow the renewal process outlined below.

What you need to do

We recommend downloading your replacement certificate as soon as possible. The process should only take a few minutes to complete.

Please note:

• Community Pharmacy practices, if not already received, can expect to receive PIN letters for client (EPOC) certificate renewals in batches between now and 1 August 2026.
• Certificate renewals require the latest version of the Certificate Management Tool (CMT). If you are currently using an older version, you will either see an error message “An error has occurred on the server” or be prompted to download and install the updated version.
• The latest version (CMT v4.1.0) automatically installs the updated root certificate and public signature verification certificate. CMT v4.1 is now the minimum supported version for certificate renewals. Please ensure it is available to any IT support staff assisting your pharmacy.
• A copy of the latest CMT User Guide will be included with your PIN letter.

Need help?

If you experience any issues during the renewal process, the ePharmacy Helpdesk will be happy to assist:

Telephone: 0131 275 6600 or Email: nss.psdhelp@nhs.scot

ePharmacy Certificate Management Tool (eCMT)

An electronic certificate is installed on each pharmacy system to ensure security across the ePharmacy infrastructure.

The certificate ensures that messages are encrypted and secure as they are transmitted electronically, and it ensures that only authorised systems can send messages.

Download the latest Certificate Management tool.

Access the ECMT Renewal Guide Apr 2026 to download the certificate management tool.