The Norfolk and Waveney Acute Hospital Collaborative – comprising Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (JPUH), and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEHKL) –  has selected MEDITECH as the supplier for their new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system.
In a press release on the collaborative’s website, the trusts said that the new EPR will go live in 2025.  The statement did not mention the size of the contract, and trust officials couldn’t immediately be reached.
The trusts that make up the collaborative are amongst the least digitally mature in the country. In the collaborative’s statement, it noted that the announcement of the new EPR “marks a significant milestone in the collaborative’s ambition to revolutionise healthcare information storage and provide better joined-up care”.

It added that the EPR will introduce time-saving features and facilitate safer, more personalised care, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of care provided by the three trusts.

Alice Webster, chief executive officer at QEHKL and senior responsible officer for the EPR programme, said: “The Electronic Patient Record programme is hugely exciting and a flagship project for the three acute hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney, and we’re delighted to have taken another step forward by choosing MEDITECH as our supplier.”
Project consulted more than  270 staff members
Martin Evans, EPR programme director said: “More than 270 members of staff from the three hospitals took part in a rigorous evaluation process for the procurement of our new EPR system.
“Through strong partnership working, they evaluated tender responses and contributed meticulously to more than 700 requirement evaluation worksheets. This monumental effort, overseen by the EPR Procurement Team, was instrumental in determining the most suitable supplier for our hospitals’ new EPR system.
“Engaging staff members from diverse backgrounds, including clinical, administration, and technical settings, allowed us to incorporate a wide range of perspectives and experiences into the evaluation process.
“This collaborative approach ensures that the chosen supplier will be capable of meeting the distinct requirements of both our dedicated staff and valued patients.”
Throughout the procurement process, the hospitals have diligently audited their current systems to understand what is required to implement the new EPR service and identify areas where seamless integration with existing technology is essential.
Mr Vivek Chitre, chief medical officer and EPR senior responsible officer for JPUH, said: “Building one EPR system for our patients and staff will transform how we deliver care and work at all of the acute hospitals in Norfolk and Waveney. It will improve safety, efficiency, and the overall experience for our patients and their families.”
The EPR system is a major milestone in the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System’s (ICS) Digital Roadmap, which promises investment in technology and the rollout of more digital tools to enhance care across the region.
Norfolk and Waveney’s digital drive comes after Patricia Hewitt, chair of the ICB in the region and former health secretary, told the Digital Health Rewired audience earlier this year that the area “stepped up” during the Covid-19 pandemic and utilised digital to support 25,000 people with daily contact.

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