The First Step to a Shared EPR World

The latest King's Fund report has emphasised the importance of a shared electronic patient record across different organisations which are outlined in the Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) - based on the '44 geographical footprints', and essential for a successful digital transformation of the NHS.

"Many STPs propose some form of electronic patient record that can be shared", the report's authors stated.

Already, South Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group have proposed a digital platform linking themselves with the north of the county to supply one EPR across three acute hospitals - allowing all providers of out-of-hospital care access to the same records.

Whereas Dorset University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust propose to implement the Dorset Care Record - enabling information sharing across different services within the geographical footprint.

The Great North Care Record are attempting a similar type of implementation, however on a much larger scale. Their suggestion is to cover the entirety of the north east of England and north Cumbria region with one integrated shared record - affecting 3.6 million people

There would be several benefits in deploying a shared EPR, including improved integrated working, more efficient and higher-quality care, and better patient safety and experience.

To implement something on this scale would require a large amount of funding, and with few STPs including much detail on revenue and capital requirements for their digital plans, it is likely to be dependent on securing central funding.

Surrey Heath Clinical Commissioning Group have stated that in order to create a ‘truly digitally enabled economy’ the cost would be £71 million.

£38m has already been put aside for their Frimley Health & Care System - with £30m of that coming from capital funding, but the project would still require £33 million of new money if the plans were to go ahead.