The North West London Acute Provider Collaborative has shared updates around EPR, ambient voice, the Federated Data Platform, digital infrastructure, and the development of a digital and data plan for 2026/27.
Five themes have been agreed upon for the digital and data plan for 2026/27, covering staff experience, patient and carer experience, business intelligence, pathway management, and infrastructure and corporate systems. According to the collaborative, existing and new projects will be aligned with these themes to help promote consistency in prioritisation, investment, and resource allocation across the trusts.
A digital capital programme for 2026/27 is also underway to ensure digital spend aligns with long term digital priorities and maximises value, it continues, with new roles required for accountability, and the need for benefits monitoring identified.
On EPR, NWL APC states that delivery has been focused on patient safety, interoperability, discharge and referral flow, and digital front door capability. Looking ahead, it expects both consolidation and optimisation of existing systems and processes, with the next 12 months to involve further embedding and realising value.
The FDP programme has made “notable progress”, according to the collaborative, improving real-time data access, supporting streamlined patient management, and increasing appointment availability. The trust’s coordination centre has been endorsed as “a transformation tool for bed management and daily operations”, it adds. Ongoing adoption of FDP modules is said to be focused on uptake of products offering the highest level of impact.
Elsewhere, AVT procurement is underway and currently moving toward the evaluation stage, the collaborative highlights, with a full business case post-procurement to be developed.
The board also noted developments from its second major Cerner upgrade during the financial year, with the first 10-week change window enabling new ways for users to authenticate via NHS Spine, and current work to enable the electronic prescription service.
Progress has been made on convergence and forward infrastructure priorities, and a corporate systems programme update revealed a full business case has been approved by all trusts, with supplier appointment progressing through the mandatory procurement standstill period.
Wider trend: Digital and data across NHS Trusts
At its latest meeting, the board of London Ambulance Service (LAS) shared updates on a range of digital and data programmes underway across the trust, looking at patient outcomes, core infrastructure modernisation, AI and automation, ePCR, and ambient voice technology. A key strategic highlight offered by the board is the transition of the My Clinical Feedback digital product, co-designed by the trust to allow paramedics to receive structured feedback on patient outcomes following conveyance, into a national Federated Data Platform product. The trust has led on successful implementation across London, and will continue to act as the national reference site during national rollout in 2026/27.
Barts Health NHS Trust has highlighted efficiencies achieved through the use of AI in handling patient complaints, sharing outcomes from a six month project at Newham Hospital. AI tools in use form part of the Microsoft Copilot system, and are approved for NHS use, the trust explains. All responses are reviewed and approved by staff members, and conversations, investigations, and clinical decisions are “always led by people”. Over a period of six months, the project resulted in increased efficiency in the complaints process, Barts Health shares. Key outcomes included a reduction of more than half in the amount of time spent drafting response letters, a “significant” reduction in the number of cases needing to be reopened, and an increased ability to respond to patients more quickly.
Wye Valley NHS Trust has shared a series of digital updates and priorities during its April board meeting, highlighting upcoming EPR and patient portal procurements, expanded use of the Federated Data Platform, and ongoing adoption of AI and ambient voice technology. With the end of the second contract for its EPR imminent, a business case is being developed for re-procurement, with aims of testing the market and ensuring delivery of Minimum Digital Foundations, the trust reports. It also notes that the current patient portal, which saw “strong uptake”, is now end of life, with ambitions to procure a new product in 2026/27 and take more services online.
HTN’s Trust Region Series for 2026 has launched, with the first instalment focusing on a deep dive into what’s happening with digital and data across the South East region, looking at case studies, pilots and innovations, strategies, and insights from the sector.
