Multimillion-pound boost to improve patient records

An NHS trust in Cambridgeshire is set to receive up to £18m for a new electronic patient record (EPR) system for its hospitals.

EPR systems create a single digital record for each patient, allowing doctors and healthcare professionals to access information such as medical histories and test results quickly.

Hannah Coffey, chief executive officer of North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, said the funding was a "significant milestone" for the organisation's digital transformation programme.

The trust, which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke, and Stamford and Rutland hospitals, said the new system, funded by NHS England, would help improve patient experience.

The trust said the technology would reduce reliance on paper records, improve the sharing of information between services and support faster clinical decision-making.

Coffey said: "Investing in the right digital infrastructure is essential to the delivery of consistent high-quality care, as well as providing a modern connected experience for our patients and staff.

"It will give our teams the tools they need to provide the best possible care for our communities."

Labour MP for Peterborough, Andrew Pakes, welcomed the funding, and said: "A modern patient record system means patients get the best support and timely information about their care. It also means staff spend less time fighting outdated systems and more time with patients.

"Good digital infrastructure is essential for the future of the new Hinchingbrooke site. That development can't go ahead without it, so this is a significant step forward for local health services."

The government said the funding would enable the trust to procure and implement a new electronic patient record system by 2029.

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