St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Group to implement joint Cerner electronic patient records to deliver high-quality care
The two Trusts within the St George’s and Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Group have signed complimentary contracts with Cerner to provide a shared electronic patient records system to deliver streamlined patient care.
This is the first large scale digital project the two Trusts have launched since becoming a group in August 2021.
While Cerner has been in use at St George’s and Queen Mary hospitals since 2013, the adoption of Cerner marks the single largest digital modernisation and transformation programme Epsom and St Helier has undertaken in recent years. It will replace the dated clinical and administrative systems currently in place, bringing welcome improvements for staff and patients.
Jacqueline Totterdell, Group Chief Executive, said: “We are committed to providing outstanding care so advancing our digital capabilities in this way, for the benefit of our patients, is a significant step towards achieving this”.
She added: “One of the greatest benefits of being a hospital group is that it offers the opportunity to share resources and collaboratively redesign pathways to deliver the highest possible quality of care to the populations we serve in a way that is efficient and effective for both staff and patients.”
The shared system means that clinical teams will now be able to access patient hospital information and records, irrespective of where care is provided across the group. It also enables more effective working with health and care partners including neighbouring hospitals, with the potential for benefits to be scaled across the south west London integrated care system.
The Epsom and St Helier contract was awarded to Cerner following a competitive process and is supported by a new contract between St George’s and Cerner reflecting the ongoing development plan which has been in place at St George’s with the benefits of wider clinical delivery.
Together, the two Trusts serve a population of approximately 2.5m people across four sites.
Peter Davies, Group Chief Digital Officer, said: “This is a really positive step that will make a difference to the quality of care we provide, particularly as those using health and care services require ever-more joined up care to meet their needs”.
He added: “Anyone who has been transferred between hospitals or referred onto a different service in another organisation will know that, up until now, you have to go over your medical history a number of times. This will be happening a lot less frequently, which is great news for our patients and we’re proud to be making such a significant investment into a vital part of the service we provide”.
He added: “The new shared domain will make it easier for patients to be treated and for clinicians to work collaboratively across south west London, Surrey and beyond.”
Notes to editors
For more information, please contact Paul Sheringham in the communications department on tel: 020 8725 5151 or email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
