Image provided by: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
The NHS Norfolk and Waveney Acute Hospital Collaborative has finalized an £88 million deal with Meditech for the implementation of an electronic patient record (EPR) system.
Comprising three NHS trusts: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, the collaborative selected Meditech as the supplier in August 2023, with plans for the EPR to be operational by 2026.
The Meditech EPR aims to revolutionize the operational processes of the acute hospitals, improving patient experience and enhancing information flow between the three institutions.
Alice Webster, CEO at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn and senior responsible officer for the EPR program, expressed confidence in the initiative’s potential to provide healthcare professionals with accurate, easily accessible patient information, ultimately delivering exceptional patient care. The shift from paper-based records and disparate systems is expected to enhance coordination among healthcare staff, ensuring improved continuity of care for patients.
Upon full implementation of the EPR, the trusts will transition away from paper-based records and fragmented systems, centralizing real-time health and care information for efficient access. Additional benefits include real-time alerts and reminders to reduce errors and improve patient safety.
Dr. Ed Prosser-Snelling, chief digital information officer and EPR senior responsible officer at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, highlighted the system’s role as the foundation for electronic clinical data systems, paving the way for staff and patients to leverage the advantages of AI and other technologies.
The approval of the full business case in June 2024, with funding from NHS England and Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), signifies a significant step towards the implementation of the EPR.
Moreover, the Norfolk and Waveney NHS ICB has issued a tender for a population health management digital solution, estimated at £1.25 million to £1.42 million. Other trusts, including University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and the Acute Hospital Alliance, have also announced plans for EPR implementations with leading technology providers.
