Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has contracted the Zesty patient engagement portal, with a contract value of £155,000.
In a call-off from a framework agreement, the trust has awarded the contract to London-based Zesty Limited for the patient engagement portal via the NHS SBS framework, with the contract set to run to the end of March 2027.
Outlining plans for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital, the trust notes ambitions to become “one of the most technologically advanced” hospitals in the country, focused on delivering models of care in new and innovative ways, and giving staff and patients the tech they need to transform the care they give and receive.
“Patients will only need to come to hospital when necessary or by choice, using remote technology to consult and keep track of their health, and with care delivered in or closer to home,” the trust notes. “Clinical staff will be able to rely on the most up-to-date and effective intelligence to inform clinical diagnosis, decision-making, prevention, treatment and care planning. Using machine learning, artificial intelligence and technology-driven systems and tools, the new hospital will make the latest and best information available at the touch of a button.”
As part of this, PAH commits to establish multichannel contact to ensure patients and staff can use what works for them, to be 100 percent paperless, and rapidly adopt new technologies. For patients, this will mean being able to access medical records digitally, and benefit from virtual consultations, self check-in on arrival, integrated bedside technology, and wearable remote monitoring devices, it shares.
95 percent of patients are “very happy” to use digital technology to support their visit to hospital and overall patient journey, the trust reports. Other digital innovations to be featured in the new hospital include digital wayfinding, robotics, smart devices, and connected systems for automatic tech-enabled care.
Wider trend: Tech supporting patient care
NHS England has announced an “overhaul of patient communications”, to detail standards for regular updates at least every 12 weeks for those on waiting lists in a plan to ensure a consistent “customer service” approach. Eight new minimum standards for patient experience have been developed in collaboration with patients and stakeholders including The Patient’s Association and sent out to all NHS providers of planned care, NHSE shares. Trusts will be expected to publish an annual summary of their performance against these standards to promote transparency.
The Health Bill’s second reading at the House of Commons has attracted a number of questions and comments from MPs around data privacy, modernisation, technology, health inequalities, and the Single Patient Record. Introducing the Bill, secretary of state for health and social care James Murray answered questions from those in attendance, highlighting ambitions “through local health watches across the country…to bring the voice of patients closer to the people who plan and deliver services”. The Bill is intended to modernise the NHS and reduce inequalities, Murray continued. “As a Labour Government, our priority is to boost investment and to modernise the NHS for the future. It is exactly that combination of investment and reform that will deliver the health service that constituents need and deserve.”
Dorset County Hospital and Dorset HealthCare have updated on digital progress and priorities for 2026/27, highlighting ongoing work on EHR implementation, primary care integration, infrastructure improvements, and a target operating model. “Good progress” is being made on EHR implementation, with the trusts citing strong recruitment and alignment of system workstreams. Primary care integration is reportedly underway, and overall delivery is rated “on track”. The trusts also list key achievements including a reduced reliance on paper records, and 20 percent of outpatient appointments being delivered remotely.
