University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) and Chesterfield Royal Hospital (CRH) have signed a joint contract for a new electronic patient record system (EPR) provided by Nervecentre.
The collaborative approach to procuring an integrated EPR solution across two neighbouring trusts is expected to bring significant benefits to patients and staff.
Nervecentre’s modern interface and ability to work on mobile devices means staff can have easy access to patient records at the bedside, at the click of a button.
The system will also support virtual clinics, allowing care to be more accessible for patients across Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
Will Monaghan, chief digital information officer at UHDB, said: “The tools we make available to our colleagues make a material difference to their ability to look after patients and what it feels like to come and do their jobs. We always want to find the best possible systems to support them.”
He added: “Hundreds of people have been involved in choosing the system and we are incredibly proud to be partnering with Nervecentre. This will make it better to deliver and receive care at our hospitals.”
The competitive tender process included demonstration days and site visits to other NHS trusts, and involved hundreds of clinical sharing their views on shortlisted EPR providers.
Nervecentre was announced as the preferred supplier in December 2023, with the contract officially being signed following a successful application for national funding from NHSE in March 2024.
The new EPR system is expected to take up to two years to fully implement across both trusts.
Speaking of the joint contract Nervecentre’s CEO Paul Volkaerts said: “We’re delighted to be working with UHDB and CRH on this groundbreaking frontline digitisation initiative that will drive transformation and break down barriers between providers.
“The integrated EPR across the trusts will allow unrivalled access to real-time patient information. Ultimately, this will improve the day-to-day working lives of their staff and improve the safety and quality of care for patients.”
Nervecentre is already a widely used EPR solution in other NHS trusts, including Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.