Herefordshire and Worcestershire select Better for electronic prescribing

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has selected Better to deliver an electronic prescribing and medication administration (EPMA) solution across its mental health recovery units and community hospitals.

Better Meds has been designed to enhance efficiency, transparency and decision making support.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care was looking for a supplier to integrate its EPMA solution into the trust’s existing electronic patient record system and community patient management software. Better Meds’ was able to provide this along with being able to deploy the solution quickly and having an end-of-life care functionality.

The procurement will fulfil the last of the trust’s obligations as a Global Digital Exemplar and marks a significant step forward in its digital transformation.

Lisa Yates, deputy chief information officer (CIO) at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “As a mental health and community trust we have some unique challenges, particularly around end-of-life care and specifics around prescriptions of antipsychotic medications, for example, which require a lot of rigour.

“The functionality around syringe drivers and infusions for use with end-of-life and palliative care was significantly better than any of the other solutions that we tested. This along with Better’s use of openEHR technology, really provided us with a simpler, easier to use system”.

Better Med had previously been implemented at neighbouring trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust, and as Herefordshire and Worcestershire delivers mental health services across the two counties, this was a key benefit for the trust.

Adrian Aggett, client director, Better UK and Ireland, said: “We have invested significant time and effort to ensure Better Meds meets the needs of our customers, so we are heartened to hear the positive feedback from clinical teams, particularly in relation to the usability and functionality.

“This is the 10th contract win for Better Meds, which is testament to the strength of the solution and the effort at which our teams go to in order to deliver for our customers. We are looking forward to working with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to help improve the safety and efficiency of the care they provide through the benefits of using Better Meds.”