Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) has shared insights into digital progress and priorities, outlining risks associated with digital systems sustainability, and the latest updates on plans for a single EPR.
A single EPR formed part of the trust’s most recent digital strategy, with a targeted go-live date of 2027, following NCA forming from the merger of two separate trusts, each with differing digital maturity levels and digital infrastructure. The trust noted that “legacy clinical systems and poor data quality has led to operational inefficiencies,” adding that a resilient digital strategy, combined with work in preparedness for a single EPR, has now been drafted to set out the vision for the next 10 years.”
The EPR transformation programme has been established and an outline business case finalised, but a go-live date has not yet been agreed, the board shares. A programme team and readiness workstreams have been established, with an EPR programme director appointed alongside CCIOs and a CNIO.
In April, Andrew Stallard, senior responsible owner for the EPR programme, shared an update highlighting delays “primarily due to extended timelines for obtaining outline business case approval from NHS England” and concerns that these delays could “increase the overall cost and pressure on resources within the organisation”. Risks were also outlined at that time around ensuring organisational readiness for “a complex digital transformation”, and limited capacity within the digital team.
By March 2027, NCA also plans to procure and implement a single centralised electronic document management system, with activities to be completed including digital destruction to support data migration, and clinical documentation standardisation with “increased governance”.
The trust reports having a “moderate appetite” for digital risks arising from upgrading or replacing legacy systems, noting “some service disruption may occur in the short term to enable long-term improvement”. Its risk appetite for adopting and testing emerging technologies is listed as “high”, depending on tech being properly piloted, governed, and offering measurable improvements in service delivery, patient experience, or outcomes.
In terms of progress, NCA reports achieving 100 percent coverage for acute WiFi, and enhancing mobile ways of working. An application roadmap is being developed to consolidate the number of applications currently in use at the trust, and work is ongoing to similarly consolidate digital infrastructure, with a focus on cloud-first and implementing digital disaster recovery.
The trust also identifies a “lack of standards and control of digital infrastructure and applications (1000+) to deliver a digital environment that is stable, resilient and responsive to current and future priorities”. Difficulties with sharing information between trust systems, and a lack of technical skills in areas such as cloud computing and cyber security, are also challenges listed in the Board Assurance Framework.
Wider trend: Implementing and optimising EPR
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust are moving forward on a group EPR, with a preferred supplier to be named on 30 November and a contract due to be signed in January 2026. A proposed timeline is for an initial review of the draft full business case on 13 November, followed by approval for submission to NHSE’s EPR investment board, with the supplier to be named on 30 November and the signing of a contract by 30 January.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s board has shared plans to update the forecasted net financial benefit of its Hive EPR from £340 million as listed at the business case stage, to £390 million. Alongside this increase, the trust highlights a series of planned EPR improvements and integrations, as well as upcoming work with NHS England as part of a review of productivity increases following EPR adoption.
A memorandum of understanding 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.
