EMIS implements single system for three Manchester PCTs

GPs at the 34 Manchester practices, which fall within North, South and Central Manchester PCTs, are using PCS Enterprise to seamlessly access their electronic patient records. 

EMIS PCS Enterprise is an integrated clinical system for primary care. The system is said by EMIS to be fully interoperable, enabling secure data exchange, which will conform to all the requirements of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT).  EMIS also says that use of PCS Enterprise supports GP-to-GP exchange of patient records, significantly in advance of NPfIT scheduled requirements.

Based on Microsoft .Net technology the EMIS PCS system has a single centralised database of records, providing practices with instant access to their data, even though it is held on remotely located servers. 

EMIS is providing the practices with a fully managed service, including server hosting, performance management, fire and flooding protection and full disaster recovery, to ensure that patient data is protected and practices will remain operational in any eventuality. 

Theresa Jennison, director of health informatics, Manchester NHS Agency, said: “The project was implemented in very short timescales in comparison to other projects of this scale. This was mainly down to the commitment of general practice and EMIS staff to working closely with PCT teams and the agency."

Jennison added: "When things went wrong, as is always inevitable, the response from the relevant EMIS staff was excellent with swift responses and resolutions being offered. EMIS provided good technical and personal support throughout, including successfully achieving some complex data transfers.”

David King, acting chief executive of North Manchester PCT, said:  “I have been very pleased with the implementation of this project. Feedback from practices has been positive. We are currently carrying out a post implementation review and early indications show satisfaction with the process. These reviews are showing that many GPs find the functionality in EMIS PCS to be excellent." 

Sean Riddell, deputy managing director of EMIS, added “This is a good example of how EMIS PCS Enterprise solutions can be implemented across multiple practices. By working in partnership with the Manchester NHS Agency, we have achieved a solution that meets the requirements of the Manchester PCTs and practices whilst also fulfilling the aspirations of NPfIT now.

EMIS’s position in relation to the National Programme for IT and individual Local Service Providers has been uncertain since January when the company announced that it would not sign the then standard sub-contractor agreements. In January EMIS’s medical director, Dr David Stables stated: "The proposed LSP contracts would result in a single, uniform system with insufficient focus on primary care."

Since then the official line from both the national programme and EMIS has been that negotiations have been continuing.   EMIS’ PCS Enterprise system is likely to form the basis of any offering provided to LSPs beyond maintenance and support of existing EMIS installations – in use in over 50% of GP practices.

EHI understands from industry sources that if EMIS does conclude agreements with LSPs, in the first instance they are most likely to be with Accenture, LSP in the North East and Eastern clusters; and CSC, LSP in the North West and West Midlands cluster.