Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s board has discussed its EPR programme amidst reported delays to phase two and outstanding work on future state validation, with a revised timeline for the action given as June 2026.
“The NOVA programme is progressing, but new risks – linked to system integration and programme complexity – are likely to delay the EPR go-live date,” the trust states. “Oracle Health has confirmed no additional costs, though extra resourcing will be needed and is being reviewed with finance.”
More than 90 colleagues across EPUT and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust have now completed its Nova Academy, aiming to strengthen digital skills across topics such as data quality, clinical safety, change management, and digital innovation, in preparation for the delivery of the EPR.
EPUT also updates on its Hospital at Home service in West Essex, which provided over 1,750 patients with care at home in 2025 using a combination of home visits, phone calls, and remote monitoring technology. According to the trust, the service’s work with people who have been discharged from hospital has meant that on average, patients can leave hospital two days earlier than planned. The service is also helping to reduce avoidable admissions from those living with frailty.
Elsewhere, the board shares that it is working with UK-based Carradale Futures on developing its Quality Priorities and the Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP). “Using AI-enabled analysis of data from incidents, complaints, CQC findings and Prevention of Future Deaths reports, this work aims to align Quality Priorities, PSIRP and Safety Improvement Plans to deliver focused, evidence-driven improvements,” it states. “The planned engagement event being held on 18 February 2026 will present this work to support development of the next Quality Priorities and PSIRP.”
Work has also begun on the development of a workforce dashboard asset in Power BI, to support the trust with monitoring workforce performance and promote evidence-based decision-making and planning. Scheduled for launch in April 2026, the dashboard will incorporate key data points across ESR, HealthRoster, Training Tracker, and local databases to offer a comprehensive view of workforce metrics.
Wider trend: EPR
In our recent EPR feature series, we take a deep dive and reflect on some of the progress made around EPRs over the last 12 months, focusing-in on implementations, on optimisation and benefits realisation, on future plans, and on insights from the wider health and care sector.
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has shared progress and challenges around its EPR programme, with a planned go-live set for 19 October 2026. The trust highlights additional capital and revenue pressures versus the EPR business case. This update also stated that progress has been made on stabilising the EPR programme, with governance implemented, go-live planning and process mapping underway, leading to an overall rating of amber being attributed in the board assurance framework.
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is working towards a new EPR and a centralised EDMS, as well as focusing on digital for pathway redesign. Progress on the single EPR has been “far slower than expected”, according to NCA, with changes to NHS England digital funding routes and NCA deficit making it challenging to progress beyond the outline business case. “Work to identify capital funding continues in support of the programme and an updated OBC is due to be presented to the board during this financial year,” it updates. “The team are working with community colleagues to set out a clear strategy for a community EPR which remains a gap in our strategic plans.”
