Aneurin Bevan University Health Board rolls out Better ePMA

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) has begun rolling out the Better Meds electronic prescribing and medicines administration system (ePMA).

The first phase of the ePMA implementation took place at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, where clinical teams have begun using Better Meds within the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation unit.

It forms part of the Digital Medicines programme led by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), a wider national drive to modernise medicines management across NHS Wales.

ABUHB serves a population of approximately 650,000 people across Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and South Powys.

With more than 14,000 staff and one of the largest healthcare networks in Wales, the health board delivers acute, community, mental health and primary care services across multiple hospitals and community settings.

Craig Roberts, assistant director of allied health professions and health science at ABUHB, and senior responsible officer for ABUHB ePMA, said: “Reaching this point represents many months of planning, learning and collective effort, all focused on improving patient safety and supporting our staff to deliver high-quality care. As the first step in our ePMA journey, it provides a strong foundation for the wider rollout across the health board.”

The launch at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr saw multidisciplinary teams from the health board and Better working closely together to support the transition from paper medication charts to electronic prescribing.

Patients’ prescribing records were transferred onto the system through a carefully managed process of transcription, verification and clinical review, ensuring a safe and structured introduction of ePMA into routine care.

Maria Harris, project manager at Better Meds, said: “We are proud to be working alongside Aneurin Bevan University Health Board as they continue their digital medicines transformation journey.

“The dedication and collaboration demonstrated by teams across the organisations have been instrumental in delivering a successful start to the programme, and we look forward to supporting future phases of the rollout.”

The deployment builds on Better’s growing presence in Wales, with three health boards now adopting its ePMA. Last month, Powys Teaching Health Board went live with the system at Bronllys Hospital as part of a phased rollout across community hospitals and inpatient services.

The first health board to deploy Better’s ePMA was Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which went live at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in December 2025.