Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has successfully gone live with the second phase of its acute Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system.
Electronic Patient Records are a centralised way of securely holding detailed information about a person’s health and care.
The Trust’s EPR, known as Nervecentre, replaces many legacy systems and paper-based processes with a single electronic platform, making it easier for staff to record, view and share patient information in real time.
By bringing patient information together in one secure place, the system supports quicker, safer clinical decision-making, improves care coordination and reduces duplication.
It enables clinicians to access and update records at the bedside using mobile devices, helping them respond faster when a patient’s condition changes and freeing up more time for direct patient care.
The EPR has been co-designed with the Trust’s clinical teams, to ensure it meets the needs of those who use it every day and delivers real improvements for patients.
Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive at HDFT, said:
“The successful launch of the next phase of our Electronic Patient Record is a major step forward for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust - changing how information is managed and care is delivered across our hospitals.
“These improvements will help us work more efficiently and give our teams the tools they need to deliver the best possible care. It will make care more joined up for our patients and supports safer, more efficient working for our teams.
“I am incredibly proud of how colleagues from across the Trust have worked together to create this fantastic digital tool, and make this go-live such a success.
“This is a significant moment in our digital journey and a clear investment in the future of our services, which will benefit both staff and patients for years to come.”
The long-term benefits of the new system include:
- Safer, more coordinated care, with clinicians having real-time access to a single, accurate patient record, reducing duplication and improving decision making
- Faster access to information, including test results, care plans and patient history, supporting more efficient care delivery
- Reduced reliance on paper, supporting sustainability and more efficient workflows
- Improved data quality, supporting safer care and better clinical oversight
Phase two significantly expands the functionality of the EPR.
Urgent and Emergency Care teams can now document patient care directly within the system, while clinical documentation, internal referrals, bed management, and outpatient e-observations are all completed in Nervecentre.
Clinicians can access patient documentation, such as historic records, clinic letters and administrative correspondence through the EPR allowing them to make quicker decisions regarding patient care.
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, Executive Medical Director and Executive Lead for Digital, said:
“This is one of the most significant transformations in the way we deliver and record care we have undertaken at HDFT.
“The new EPR will help us document more consistently, access information more quickly and make safer decisions at every stage of the patient journey.
“The EPR improves patient safety, reduces the risk of errors and frees up clinician time so teams can focus on delivering excellent care.
“The go‑live is a really positive step forward for our clinical teams and our patients and will make a real difference in the day‑to‑day care we can provide.
“My thanks go to all colleagues who have worked tirelessly to make the go live a success. We very much appreciate the fantastic co-working between clinical, digital and operational colleagues and for everyone’s commitment to delivering this major transformation programme”.
The launch follows the successful first phase launch of the Nervecentre EPR, which went live in November and introduced electronic observations and clinical photography, with a patient investigations feature introduced in December.
This has allowed test results to be viewed and filed in the same system, reducing duplication and saving valuable time.
The successful launch of phase two significantly builds on the capability of the EPR and follows extensive preparation, including training sessions, readiness exercises and close collaboration across the Trust.
Clinical, operational and digital teams worked together to ensure the system was safely introduced and fully supported.
The EPR programme represents one of the most significant transformations in care the Trust will ever undertake, improving patient safety, reducing errors and supporting clinicians to focus on what matters most - their patients.
Paul Volkaerts, CEO of Nervecentre Software said:
“Congratulations to Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust on their successful go-live with Nervecentre.
“This milestone is particularly significant as it includes several first-of-type deployments, demonstrating both innovation and a shared commitment to advancing digital healthcare.
“The smooth and successful go-live is a testament to the outstanding teamwork, dedication and project management shown by colleagues at both HDFT and Nervecentre.”
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