Key Takeaways
- The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Group has confirmed launch dates for its new maternity EPR system, BadgerNet.
- Kettering General Hospital will implement BadgerNet in July 2025, followed by Northampton General Hospital by the end of 2025.
- The BadgerNet system aims to improve alignment with national maternity standards and operates as a paperless solution across multiple locations.
Maternity EPR System Launch Confirmed
The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) Group has officially set the timeline for the implementation of its maternity electronic patient record (EPR) system, BadgerNet, addressing earlier concerns regarding the absence of a go-live date. The group, which encompasses Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital, revealed these details in a board paper published on August 2, 2024. The Clinical Safety and Quality Committee warned of “potential operational risks” arising from the uncertainty around the implementation date prior to this announcement.
A spokesperson for UHN confirmed that BadgerNet will be rolled out at Kettering General Hospital in the summer of 2025, with Northampton General Hospital scheduled to follow by the end of the same year. The spokesperson assured that there would be no operational impact on care arrangements during this transition, emphasizing the system’s objective to align with national maternity care standards for both patients and staff.
Subsequent board documents indicate that the exact launch date for Kettering General Hospital has been set for July 8, 2025. As for Northampton General Hospital, the launch date is pending confirmation from System C, the company behind the BadgerNet system.
The BadgerNet maternity system is designed to be a comprehensive paperless solution for early pregnancy, gynecology, and maternity care. It allows for a consolidated pregnancy record that can be accessed across various healthcare locations, thereby improving continuity of care.
Nick Wilson, chief executive of System C, expressed confidence in the implementation process, stating that collaboration with UHN has been fruitful. He mentioned that training for the staff begins next week, indicating that significant progress is being made toward the successful deployment of BadgerNet.
The UHN Group is joining other NHS organizations in adopting the BadgerNet system. For instance, the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust completed its rollout of BadgerNet and the accompanying Badger Notes online portal and app in June 2024. Additionally, three trusts within the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Acute Hospital Alliance are also gearing up for their BadgerNet launches in 2025.
In a broader context, the Welsh government announced plans for the implementation of BadgerNet across Wales by March 2026. Meanwhile, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has issued a tender to seek re-implementation and support for the maternity component of its current EPR system with Cerner Millennium (Oracle Health), highlighting the ongoing evolution of maternity services within the NHS.
The move towards the BadgerNet system reflects a significant commitment to improving maternity services by leveraging technology to enhance patient care and streamline operations within the NHS framework.
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