Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has launched the SystmOne EPR, joining around half of local GP practices using SystmOne and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
Chief medical officer Oliver Dale spoke of seeing early evidence of positive feedback and improvements, noting: “Change can be difficult, and with a change of this size we had anticipated that there would be challenges. In the first few weeks we have seen issues with staff being able to access and use the system, which we know has been frustrating and disruptive.
“However, with significant effort and focus from colleagues and teams across the trust we are now in a much better position and staff are starting to get into the rhythm of using the new system.”
In its last board meeting, updates included that the training completion target had been met and currently stood at 84.1 percent, and that go-live had been delayed due to “data migration errors at scale that could not be mitigated to ensure a safe implementation”. Further testing of data migration at scale has since offered “significant assurance”, it continued.
Paul Colbran, chief transformation & digital officer at Sussex Partnership, added: “The main aim of this digital transformation is to improve patient care. The system will allow us to increase communication between teams and partner organisations, support better digital integration with other local NHS services, and reduce duplication and paperwork, freeing up more time for our clinicians to spend with patients.”
Wider trend: Electronic patient records
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has extended its contract with Meditech to support the continuity of its core clinical information system whilst undergoing a procurement for a new EPR solution. The £2.8 million contract is set to run from 19 March 2026 to 18 March 2028, with the option to extend to 18 March 2030 to accommodate procurement activity. The trust plans to utilise the contract term to prepare, tender, and implement a new solution, working toward strategic convergence of core clinical information systems in accordance with NHS long-term strategy.
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.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has introduced three innovations within its digital patient record system to allow for the electronic capture of peer support outcomes. The innovations include the Hope, Agency and Opportunity (HAO) outcome measure, a dedicated peer support intervention tab, and an intended activity SNOMED code. According to the trust, the introduction of these measures means peer support activities and outcomes can be recorded more consistently, building a better understanding of the impact peer support workers have on people’s recovery, and generating evidence to support the development of lived experience roles in mental health care.
