FAQs

Will it link up with other local trusts and healthcare providers?

Staff at St Georges, Epsom and St Helier will be able to access your health records, including and diagnosis, treatment and care received across all hospitals.

How secure is the EPR?

Access to records is only available to authorised staff and there is a strict governance policy around this. The information is stored off site and the data is therefore less vulnerable to cyber-attack or to outside agencies. All patient data is stored in the UK.

How will the EPR help us to make patient care safer?

One of the biggest benefits is our clinicians can see what’s happening with your treatment from any of our hospitals.

Computers can never replace the knowledge and good judgement of a clinician. However, they can support care, alert us to things we should look out for such as allergies.

EPR will reduce the likelihood of human error, removing the need to decipher people’s handwriting or find crucial information that’s been recorded on the right piece of paper.

What will happen to paper records?

Over time, paper records will gradually become less relevant and the need to access and store them will reduce. Paper records that need to be accessible on the new EPR system can be scanned in.

Can I opt out of having an EPR?

Your electronic patient record is key in ensuring we provide the best care possible and can continue to improve the way we work, so you can’t opt out. There will not be alternative record keeping systems.

What happens if the system goes down and you can’t access my record?

There are a number of contingency plans in place, including a back-up system which will give access to essential information.

This EPR is used widely across the UK and in other countries and the general experience is that down-time is infrequent and only ever lasts for a short amount of time.