We have been chosen as one of three Trusts nationally to pilot NHSX Digital programme for mental health services

We have been selected of one of seven Trusts across the UK to participate in the NHSX Digital Aspirant Plus (DA+) programme, one of just three in the mental health and community services sectors.

The goal of the DA+ programme is to encourage innovation in Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems across acute, mental health and community sectors.

The programme aims to provide staff with an Electronic Patient Record system which is      secure and easy to use in their day-to-day work; one which complements existing processes, such as those within the Yorkshire & Humber Care Record. As a result, the time it takes staff to find patient information and navigate digital systems will be shortened, increasing productivity and accessibility at work.

Initially, we will be taking on the programme within our mental health services, which cover a patch across Hull, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

As part of DA+, the EPR Innovator Project for Mental Health and Community Sectors will enable the selected organisations to partner up, to enable investment and support the development of EPR capabilities that are currently not provided across the market. 

For example, through the programme, Trusts could build capability around:

• Mobility and flexible working to support mobile workforce, community working and remote access
• Interoperability of clinical and operational systems
• Remote monitoring and supporting people at home
• Support for full patient pathways

During 2021/22, NHSX is supporting the participating organisations to develop their plans including seed funding of up to £250,000 to accelerate their planning and readiness activity. 

Lee Rickles, Chief Information Officer at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are delighted to be an EPR Innovator Project for Mental Health. Our initial focus will be improving the user experience, meaning that the system will be designed around the person using it and adhere to staff needs. We will also be recruiting our operational Digital Champions to help us develop the EPR alongside these needs. Working with NHSX will bring new ideas, solutions and challenges to the exciting programme of work.”

Sonia Patel, Chief Information Officer at NHSX, said:

“Electronic Patient Record systems are the building blocks of good digital healthcare, but they are also complex and expensive to procure. At NHSX, we want to positively shape the EPR market in England and help local NHS organisations procure new, modern solutions and drive wider innovation in the market.

These exciting projects will not just help the seven selected Trusts deliver better care for their patients and a better experience for their staff, but it will also help those other NHS organisations looking at EPR procurement.”

The Trusts selected to take part in the EPR Innovator Project for Mental Health and Community Trusts are:

• Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
• Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

We’re pleased to have been selected based on our innovative vision for improving mental health systems with the use of EPRs and look forward to developing our digital processes in a person-centred, efficient way, with the support of NHSX.