MFT signs contract with Epic for ambitious new EPR solution

News posted 26 May, 2020

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has signed a contract with Epic to provide the Trust’s future Electronic Patient Record (EPR) solution – providing all the most up-to-date information about a patient’s care at the tap of a screen.

The contract signing has taken place following approval of the EPR Full Business Case by MFT’s Board of Directors in May.

As the UK’s largest NHS Trust, serving nine hospitals spread across six sites and an extensive list of national specialisms, MFT’s EPR solution will be one of the most ambitious undertaken in the NHS.

The EPR solution, which will be called Hive, will eventually provide a new ‘operating system’ for MFT which will replace current IT systems, including three existing EPR and Patient Administration Systems (PAS) and a number of smaller specialty systems.

Medical software company Epic was announced as MFT’s preferred bidder in September 2019, following a competitive dialogue procurement process.

Sir Michael Deegan CBE, Chief Executive of MFT said “Following an extensive and in-depth procurement process, the EPR solution put forward by Epic has been chosen as the best to meet the complex and specialist needs of the Trust.

“Our future EPR solution will enable the Trust to transform how we are able to work together across departments and professions to benefit patients and our staff. Creating one central point of access for patient records across the Trust will improve clinical quality, patient experience, staff experience, and operational effectiveness in addition to opening new opportunities for research and innovation.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated the national importance of integrating systems and processes in order to work effectively and dynamically. Once this system is implemented it will enable us to further improve services for patients and people who use our services.”

Judy Faulkner, CEO of Epic said: “MFT has an important role in improving patients’ health and quality of life. We hope the electronic patient record will contribute to improved outcomes for the communities of Greater Manchester.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

  • The Contract value is £181m which is spread over a 15 year period.
  • The Full Business Case sets out the strategic vision, business, operational and financial cases for why the EPR is required.