A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a joint EPR programme has been prepared by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, outlining the joint approach to procurement, governance, resourcing, and decision-making.
The intention to jointly procure an EPR was shared in June, with the organisations noting the steps they are taking ahead of when current contracts end in 2028. A joint digital programme board is leading the work to make sure it meets the needs of both organisations, with the trusts also focusing on sustainability and to be proactive in its services for the future.
The joint approach is intended to ensure the successful implementation of an EPR solution, providing a consistent and unified patient record, aligning with national NHS digital strategies and regulatory requirements, sharing expertise, and to support “cost-effective resource allocation”.
The joint EPR programme board will oversee the implementation, including representation from both trusts, and decisions will be made by consensus where possible. Financially, the trusts agree to split costs across consultancy, procurement, and implementation on a 50/50 basis, with each to allocate “sufficient internal resources” across clinical engagement, programme support, and digital input.
Procurement efforts will also be conducted jointly, with vendors to be selected based on a jointly-agreed evaluation and scoring methodology. A joint Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) will be conducted, “with individual Trust-level addendums as required”, and a Data Sharing/Information Sharing Agreement will be created and agreed. The procured solution must integrate with NHS Spine and support wider interoperability needs across the system, the MoU states.
Wider trend: Collaboration on digital transformation
NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB board recently highlighted the launch of a strategic digital collaborative, a joint venture with Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, intended to allow both ICBs to take advantage of digital opportunities from across the two systems, and to provide an overarching digital strategic vision for health and care within the East Midlands Combined Authority boundary. Focus areas for joint working have been identified across cyber security, digital procurement, the sharing of best practice, and digital enablement – benefits realisation.
A recent board meeting has outlined the role, remit, purpose, and agenda of a new Joint Infrastructure Committee launched by The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust. Following approval from both trust boards, terms of reference have now been submitted to the committee for formal endorsement. Its purpose is to oversee the development of digital, estate, and sustainability plans including regenerative opportunities with partners to improve and rationalise the trust’s estate, save money, or improve efficiency.
The East Cheshire NHS Trust board has noted a “smoother than anticipated go-live” of its MEDITECH EPR in June of this year, noting learnings to share with other trusts, the impacts across the hospitals and the next phase of the programme. The joint go-live with Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust introduced phase one functionality including emergency department, patient administration system, theatres, inpatient and outpatient clinical documentation, and radiology requesting. Inpatient electronic prescribing and medicines administration followed shortly after.
