Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has highlighted progress around digital systems, AI, ambient voice and virtual care, and an upcoming upgrade to the AlderC@re EPR system to deliver additional functionality and keep pace with developments in AI and patient tools.
The business case to upgrade the AlderC@re EPR system from Meditech Expanse version 2.1 to 2.2 was approved by the Finance Transformation and Performance Committee in November 2025, the trust shares, offering benefits and added functionality across nursing, oncology, labs, and critical care. The upgrade is also expected to improve integration with the patient portal, and facilitate developments with AI and patient-facing digital tools.
Work is ongoing through the paediatric open innovation zone to develop its digital offer for families, including a digital portal offering access to health services. Phase one is due to go live imminently, and workshops covering aspects of booking, proxy access, and clinical features have been completed, with the trust reporting that integration with NHS login is underway.
Ambient voice is now in place and integrated with Meditech, with more than 1,200 clinicians onboarded. AI is also in use in the PICU, where the Etiometry solution is providing real-time AI-driven risk analytics and centralised monitoring for critical care.
An integrated observations solution has been launched in line with the deteriorating patient programme, linking two bedside monitor suppliers to the Meditech system to enable the automated transfer of patient observations, replacing the previous DETECT system and the need for manual data entry.
In terms of data, Alder Hey is making the transition to a new cloud-based data platform, incorporating a built-in AI self-service tool and the ability to accommodate additional data sources from external partners. An AI coding tool has similarly been developed which is currently being validated to test its accuracy. The Federated Data Platform has been in theatres since March 2025, and the trust is now scoping the outpatient room booking module. A datacentre refresh and EPR datacentre refresh are expected to complete by February 2026.
Other updates include that the Cleo electronic prescribing solution is now live across community and mental health services. The personal demographics service was launched in August to support accuracy in patient records and facilitate communication across health settings. Windows 11 migration is complete. Following the publication of the trust’s AI strategy, a core group is developing a digital skills offer on three levels: basic, for all staff; intermediate; and advanced, for a smaller variety of staff.
Looking ahead, Alder Hey notes that “the trusts core network requires a refresh in 26/27”, adding: “This has been indicated for a number of years within the capital plans and will require capital investment.”
Wider trend: EPR
A recent HTN Now panel discussion explored EPR customisations for the frontline and how digital transformation can support the direction set in the 10 Year Health Plan. We discussed optimisation, challenges and key learnings from success stories shared by our experts. Panellists included Doctor Stephen Jones, principal clinical psychologist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital; David Wong, associate professor of health data science and health informatics at Leeds University; Mark Simpson, digital innovation leader at Leeds Community Healthcare; and Michael Odling-Smee, CEO at Aire Innovate.
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust has shared a revised digital roadmap with go-live set for January 2026 of its SystmOne EPR implementation, and an additional £1 million in programme costs. The implementation is continuing, with structured data cleansing, migration, and referral cleanup activities ongoing, according to the trust. The decision to defer the go-live to January is to allow the completion of both data readiness and staff training, it continues, with the projected cost also to rise from £3.5 to £4.46 million due to costs associated with training and manual data migration.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has shared updates on phase one go-live of its EPR programme and a revised EPR milestone plan to the end of 2026 and beyond. Phase one covered the replacement of the trust’s patient administration system for acute and community services, as well as the emergency department patient first system and theatre management system.
