Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has recently implemented an electronic prescription system (EPS) from CLEO Systems in its pregnancy assessment unit.
The trust signed a three-year contract with CLEO Systems and went live with the CLEO SOLO EPS in July 2024, following the successful deployment of the system at Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust in August 2022.
The EPS aims to reduce waiting times by allowing clinicians to electronically prescribe medications, which patients can easily collect from their nominated pharmacies. This development is seen as a significant step towards improving patient care and streamlining the prescription process.
According to Sarah Chandler, deputy chief pharmacist at Northumbria Healthcare, “This implementation is a crucial advancement for the organization, benefiting both patients and clinicians, especially considering the geographical challenges of Northumbria. We anticipate that this system will enhance access to medicines and enhance the overall patient experience.”
In a statement to Digital Health News, David Brown, managing director at CLEO Systems, expressed excitement about the deployment of CLEO SOLO EPS in a pregnancy assessment unit for the first time. He looks forward to hearing about the positive outcomes for both patients and clinicians.
Initially used in the pregnancy assessment unit, Northumbria Healthcare plans to extend the use of the CLEO SOLO EPS to other areas. The system utilizes the Health Level 7 (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) messaging standard and directly connects to the NHS Spine, eliminating the need for integration with other clinical systems.
Northumbria Healthcare will also be the first to use CLEO Systems’ SMS functionality, allowing clinicians to share prescription details via text message. This feature aims to enhance communication and convenience for both patients and healthcare providers.
The CLEO SOLO EPS has already been successfully deployed at various NHS trusts, including Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, East London NHS Foundation Trust, and North East London NHS Foundation Trust. In addition, GP out of hours service BrisDoc announced plans to implement the CLEO Core electronic patient management system in urgent care services across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire in August 2024.
