Key Takeaways
- United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has contracted Nervecentre to implement a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system by September 2025.
- The cloud-based EPR aims to enhance real-time access to patient data for clinicians, improving care efficiency across health services.
- The initiative is part of a £1.9 billion investment by NHS England to digitize healthcare records nationwide.
Implementation of Digital Patient Records
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has signed a significant contract with Nervecentre to implement a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, marking a decisive shift towards fully digitized patient health records. The rollout of this innovative cloud-based system is planned for September 2025 and will be integrated across the trust’s acute hospitals.
The EPR system is designed with clinicians in mind, granting secure and instant access to real-time patient data at the point of care. By facilitating efficient information sharing across various departments, wards, and hospital sites, the system is expected to enhance access for staff and healthcare professionals throughout the Lincolnshire care system, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
This 10-year contract follows a competitive tender process and aligns with NHS England’s funding initiative launched in May 2025, aimed at supporting NHS trusts in reaching a core level of digitization. The national initiative is backed by a substantial investment of £1.9 billion, reflecting the critical need for health and care staff to access vital information when required.
Professor Colin Farquharson, the group chief medical officer at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals, expressed optimism regarding the implementation. He noted that within the next year, clinicians would have immediate access to comprehensive patient data, enhancing the bedside care experience. “For clinicians, the EPR represents new opportunities that we are excited to see realized,” he stated.
Further emphasizing the importance of this technological advancement, Michael Humber, the group director of digital services, highlighted the benefits for frontline staff. He remarked, “By using technology, we will be delivering tools that support them to focus on improving care and increasing patient safety.” Humber noted that the necessary groundwork to support the EPR had already been laid by improving the trust’s digital infrastructure, paving the way for a successful Nervecentre rollout.
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals is joining a broader regional network of acute trusts implementing Nervecentre’s platform. For example, Northampton General Hospital went live with the EPR system at the end of June 2025, showcasing a trend of digital innovation across hospitals. This shift not only fosters collaboration among healthcare providers but also encourages secure data exchange while adhering to localized record-sharing preferences.
Additionally, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has signed a similar 10-year contract with Nervecentre to implement an EPR, with its rollout commencing in May 2025. Following suit, the Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust selected Nervecentre as its preferred supplier for the EPR system by the end of June 2025.
With these multiple initiatives, the movement towards digitized health records is gaining momentum, promising a more efficient and effective healthcare system for patients and providers alike. This new digital era aims to streamline patient care while ensuring that vital information is readily available for decision-making in medical settings.
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