New Electronic Patient Record to improve health experience in UK first
In a first for the UK, people across Essex and beyond will benefit from a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system after a £65million contract was awarded to Oracle Health, a global leader in healthcare systems.
The new system will build on current digital investments to create a single patient record system across hospitals, mental health and community services. This will be delivered by the Trust and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), in partnership with Oracle Health.
The new system is expected to launch in 2026/27. It will improve how clinicians access patients’ comprehensive health and care information in real-time and enhance patients’ experiences by not having to re-tell their health or care history whenever they see a health professional.
Zephan Trent, Executive Lead for Strategy and Transformation for EPUT and the Trust, said: “The introduction of a new, single patient record system across our hospitals, mental health and community services is a step further in enabling and empowering our doctors, nurses and health professionals to deliver the right care, at the right time and at the point of need.
“It will enhance co-ordination and collaboration among clinicians to aid faster decisions that will further improve the care we provide to our patients and their families.
“This is an ambitious programme that seeks to better connect our hospitals and the community, with a chance to transform the way we manage health for people who use our services”.
Dr Matt Sweeting, Executive Medical Director at Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “Patients don’t see borders between NHS organisations, and neither should we. Our digital infrastructure needs to reflect this.
“The new patient record system will reflect the reality of care across our acute, mental health and community services. Along with our approach to shared care records and our commitment to work with all our partners, this will support modern joined-up care across health and care services.
“This is exciting news for our patients, healthcare professionals and communities.”
Seema Verma, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Oracle Health and Life Sciences, said:
“By utilising Oracle Health’s EPR, healthcare professionals working in the two trusts will be able to easily access comprehensive and accurate patient data, allowing them to make more informed decisions and improve patient care. On top of this, it will help reduce the amount of time they spend on process and paperwork, enabling them to focus on what matters most – their patients.”
Both trusts are working collaboratively on the design and implementation of the new system to help ensure it fulfils the needs of their patients and service users by empowering doctors, nurses and many other healthcare professionals across the area.
The approval of the full business case and investment in the EPR system is part of the NHS commitment to modernising healthcare services through digital technology, improving patient care and increasing system-wide efficiency.