NHSI Deny EPR for Leicester

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust's proposal for funding to deploy Cerner Millennium as their electronic patient record (EPR) has been declined by NHS Improvement (NHSI).

The midlands trust requested to implement the EPR at the cost of £26.3 million, but were denied the central funding required due to lack of money available.

“NHSI have confirmed that they are not in a position to support the proposal and their proposed cost envelope would mean that an integrated solution, UHLs preferred option, is no longer achievable”, the trust's Board Papers stated.

“The Trust’s EPR Scheme as it currently stands would have an unaffordable impact on the national capital resource limit and, therefore, would not be recommended for approval.”

Leicester are now proposing a different approach for the future - with a best-of-breed system the most likely alternative.

This strategy would include upgrading currently implemented Clinicom and Ormis in order to “ensure they can be supported for a longer period”, the report added.

The finalised details of these plans will become available towards the end of 2017 after the trust has revisited the issues with partnering Cerner to find a cheaper solution.

The news comes after the trust announced they have successfully deployed Nervecentre's WISE software throughout their Emergency Department in order to keep up with growing usage.