Torbay and South Devon on verge of Epic EPR go-live

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is rolling out an Epic electronic patient record (EPR) this week.

The system is set to go live on 3 April 2026, bringing patient health information together in a digital format that can be shared across different healthcare settings in Devon.

It will include a range of medical data, including medications and allergies, laboratory test results, radiology images and vital signs.

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust staff and patients have already been experiencing the benefits of the Epic EPR, which was introduced for east Devon in 2020 and for North Devon in 2022.

Torbay and South Devon and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust signed a contact with Epic for the system in January 2025 as part of a shared vision to implement a single EPR across Devon under the One Devon EPR programme.

Professor Adrian Harris, chief medical officer (digital and research) for the Royal Devon and senior responsible owner for the One Devon EPR Programme said: “This is quite simply one of the biggest changes to health care in Devon in a generation.

“The introduction of a single EPR across the county will see many benefits for years to come as more comprehensive data, provided in real-time, will support the delivery of improved patient outcomes, higher quality research and advanced service planning.”

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust plan to launch the EPR on 23 July 2026. When this takes place, the new EPR will create one single EPR system for staff in multiple hospital and community sites across Devon.

For patients, this will mean no matter which hospital they attend in Devon, they don’t have to remember their medical history or repeat the same information to different members of staff.

Adel Jones, chief operating officer at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Colleagues are really excited about our new EPR, and I’d like to thank everyone who has been working so hard to get ready for the launch.

“As we get to grips with our new system, patient safety and care will remain our top priority, and we will continue to deliver the highest possible quality of care.

“We are asking for our patients, their families and carers to bear with us over the coming days while colleagues get used to the new system. If you have concerns or need additional help with your care at any time, please talk to your clinical team.”

As part of the EPR launch, the new MY CARE patient portal will be available, an app and online service that puts information about care in the hands of patients.

MY CARE summarises patients’ medical information and interactions with their clinical team into one place. It also allows patients to securely and easily access some elements of their health record, including appointment data, giving them more control over their care.

Last month, four NHS trusts in Dorset and Somerset signed a £222 million contract with Epic to implement a unified EPR system across the region, which is planned to launch in April 2028.