NHS: Electronic Patient Record Systems

Lord Kamall Excerpts

Wednesday 12th February 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Kamall]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have made to complete the rollout of electronic patient record systems to NHS trusts which have not yet implemented them.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, NHS England has supported over 160 trusts with digital transformation, including the implementation of electronic patient records. Currently, 91% rollout of electronic patient records has been achieved, with work under way to provide tailored support to the remaining 19 trusts that do not yet have an electronic patient record.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I thank the Minister for that informative Answer. As she will know, the rollout of electronic patient records is just the first step towards full digital maturity, which will allow systems to share data across the system, not only for patient care but for research data that can help with preventive care. Can the Minister tell us more about what specific, targeted assistance those trusts that have not yet reached digital maturity are being given to ensure that they are digitally mature, whether they have the technology but are not yet using it to full capability or they need better technology to achieve full EPRs?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I first acknowledge the role that the noble Lord, and the noble Lord, Lord Markham, played when they were Health Ministers. They both drove this agenda forward. I am grateful for that. The tailored support includes a number of activities to install, upgrade and optimise electronic patient records to meet the standard that the noble Lord is aware that we need to meet. I am sure that he is aware of the What Good Looks Like digital framework. That is an assessment of how digitally mature a system is. It gives guidance but also highlights where intervention must take place to bring it up to the right standard, which we would all want to see.