Aneurin Bevan University Health Board selects Better ePMA

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) in Wales has selected Better to provide an electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system in its local hospital areas.

The implementation of the ePMA system, which is a key part of NHS Wales’ Digital Medicines Programme, aims to make medicines prescribing and administration safer, easier and more efficient for patients and clinicians.

ABUHB serves the five areas of Gwent, including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, as well as the neighbouring area of South Powys.

Better Meds were selected in December 2023, with the contract being officially signed in December 2024. It will cover the implementation window plys five years from go-live with the option to extend by a further two years.

At present, ABUHB plans to go live in February 2026 providing there are no further delays.

Dr Melanie Poole, lead ePMA doctor at ABUHB, said: “The implementation of ePMA is a significant step forward in the health board’s digital strategy, harnessing technology to enhance healthcare delivery.

“We are excited to be partnering with Better to transform prescribing and medicines administration across Aneurin Bevan UHB.

“Safe and effective medication management is at the heart of every hospital patient’s care. By digitising prescribing and administration, we will streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and deliver significant benefits for both patients and healthcare professionals.

“Clinicians will have instant access to comprehensive medication records, and decision support tools, ensuring safer prescribing and administration.

“Furthermore, this digital transformation enables organisation-wide analysis of prescribing trends, supporting continuous quality improvement for better patient outcomes.”

A dedicated team at ABUHB has been established to maintain focus on enhancing prescribing safety for patients during the roll out of its secondary care ePMA system.

This has helped the team to identify the benefits of ePMA, such as reductions in spend on medications, improved safety around better documentation of allergies, and a reduction in time spent by health and care staff locating patient information.

Božidarka Radović, product director at Better, said: “We are proud to support Aneurin Bevan UHB in their journey towards safer and more efficient medication management.

“Implementing our ePMA will not only enhance patient safety but also streamline workflows for healthcare professionals, ensuring that critical medication information is always accessible.

“This collaboration strengthens the foundation of a digitally connected and interoperable NHS Wales.”

The introduction of ePMA is supported and funded by Welsh Government and the work of delivering ePMA in hospitals will form part of the strategy for Aneurin Bevan UHB’s next 10-year plan for healthcare in Gwent.

In August 2024, it was announced that the Better ePMA will go live in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the largest health board in Wales, by March 2026 to replace paper-based processes with digital workflows across more than 40 hospital and community sites.

Meanwhile, the Welsh government announced in January 2025 that an electronic health record and app will be rolled out across the country to enable mothers-to-be to access their full maternity records instantly.