The board of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) offered an update on the trust’s EPR implementation following the go-live of tranche one functionality in November 2025, along with plans to continue to improve digital maturity scores and a roadmap to 2028.
“EPR is live and continues to be rolled out with positive signs,” the board notes. “First tranche of EPR had launched on Wednesday 19 November and the launch had gone very well with the level of engagement well received. The next target was to view results with April as the date for clinical noting.” Praise is shared for the team on delivering a successful launch, and for the decision to adopt a modular approach.
The EPR programme is part of HDFT’s wider ambition to increase its digital maturity and achieve a score of 5/5 across all seven of the What Good Looks Like pillars. In its first year, 2024-25, the focus was on the delivery of projects including a new laboratory system, paper-lite processes, patient engagement portals, cyber essentials, robot process automation, AI and rostering solutions, and preparation for the new EPR.
For 2025/26, the focus is on delivering the Nervecentre EPR, HDFT continues, as well as the improvement of overall digital maturity scores. Outcomes from the Digital Maturity Assessment are being analysed to identify and plan opportunities for improvement. Moving into 2026/27, the board will be looking at the delivery of enhanced EPR functionality, EPR optimisation, and “starting to realise benefits”.
By April 2026, the trust hopes to put in place new processes to realise benefits, achieve paper-lite, deliver HIMSS Level 5, reduce the number of patient record systems, and reach 90 percent in the EPR Digital Capabilities Framework. This will involve designing, testing and building the EPR; training end users; and going live with new ways of working. Beyond this, to 2027/8, the focus is on system optimisation and enhancing EPR with ePM.
Wider trend: EPR and EPR optimisation
A 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.
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.”
