University Hospitals Plymouth selects Epic as preferred EPR supplier

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has selected Epic as its preferred supplier for an electronic patient record system.

The trust, which has a secondary care catchment of around 475,000 people, with a wider peninsula population of almost 2,000,000 people who can access specialist services, has been given the green light from its Board after a rigorous tender process, the trust said in a press release on its website. The decision is subject to contract and national approval of the Full Business Case.

Epic already supplies EPRs to the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. In February, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust also identified Epic as its preferred supplier, meaning that the three Acute Trusts in Devon now have an  opportunity to provide a truly joined up EPR solution, the press release noted. It added, that the benefits of doing this “will support both operational efficiency and patient safety across the region.”

The trust noted that Epic has a “strong track record in collaborating with the NHS”, having worked with many trusts to deliver their EPRs including Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Simeon Brundell, consultant surgeon and the trust’s chief clinical information officer, said: “We know that an EPR will help drive improved standards of services at our hospital. With secure, immediate access to live data, the new system will give clinical staff more time to deliver higher quality, and safer care. For patients, this will mean they don’t have to remember their medical history or repeat the same information to different members of staff, making their care journey more joined-up.”

Epic executive Leslie Selby said: “The trust will be able to offer convenient mobile access for patients and clinicians while also benefiting from advanced features such as generative AI and machine learning to improve outcomes and efficiency. We look forward to supporting the trust and its partners in improving the way care is delivered for people throughout Devon.”

NHS England is providing £1.9 billion to NHS trusts to ensure they all meet a core level of digitisation and have electronic patient record systems in place.

This investment in digitising the frontline is intended to ensure that health and care staff have access to health-related information when and where it is needed, supporting them to deliver care efficiently, effectively and safely, reducing variation and improving outcomes.