Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has announced its use of digital, data and technology has achieved three core HIMSS standards.
The trust has announced it has achieved validations for HIMSS INFRAM (Infrastructure Adoption Model), EMRAM (Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model) and ANAM (Adoption Model for Analytics Maturity).
Rob Birkett, chief digital and information officer, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS FT, commented: “This is a significant accomplishment, only made possible by the commitment and positive approach of colleagues across the whole trust.
“The accreditations focused on how we use digital to support quality improvement, reduce risk and enhance safety. The assessors visited wards and departments across the whole trust and were extremely positive about what they saw and the people they met.”
John Rayner, HIMSS senior director for the EMEA region, added: “As the only recipient of three stage six awards, AMAM™, EMRAM™ and INFRAM™, (CHFT) may be described by some, as one of the most digitally advanced hospitals in Europe. What a great narrative to celebrate.”
Wider trend: strategy from across the NHS
In its latest meeting, the board of Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust discussed “significant progress” made over the last two months in progressing the trust’s digital agenda, highlighting new digital roles, EPR procurement, planned rollout of ambient voice, and a “major investment” in clinical system integration. Procurement has begun for a new acute and community EPR, according to the board, with decisions moving forward to be shaped by staff input. A major investment in clinical system integration with system partners is underway, with the trust’s virtual ward to be integrated with Oracle CRS and TPP SystmOne to promote data flows and improve joined-up care.
South Yorkshire ICB has launched three digital strategies designed to modernise services, strengthen cyber resilience, and empower its workforce with digital skills to continue to deliver safe and effective care. The digital strategy to 2027 notes AI as one of the major areas highlighted by the ICB. The board outlines its plans to set up a system-wide AI and automation forum to oversee development of agreed frameworks and principles for adoption, and to collaborate with academic partners to ensure these are kept up-to-date. Steps will be taken to help partners understand their AI maturity, and a system pilot will be undertaken for ambient voice, taking advantage of opportunities to procure at scale through the NHS Test Framework.
East Cheshire NHS Trust has outlined five aims for 2026 and beyond following the “smoother than anticipated” go-live of its Meditech EPR in June of last year. The trust shares five focuses ahead of the one-year anniversary of implementation, including a major upgrade addressing “a number of the known improvement opportunities” with the system, scheduled for 21 March. By the end of June 2026, East Cheshire plans to complete the further digitisation of paper documentation across its inpatients, outpatients, and ED departments. “The focus is on high priority documents,” it states, “a top 50 have been agreed for delivery for June 2026 with available resources.”
