September 22, 2020 3.44 pm This story is over 42 months old

Lincolnshire hospitals get £1.2m for digital prescriptions system

Quicker prescriptions and fewer errors
| Photo: Adobe Stock

Lincolnshire hospitals will be able prescribe medicine electronically and gain quicker access to potentially lifesaving information after securing £1.2 million in funding.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is one of seven hospital trusts to receive a share of £8.7 million to introduce digital records and electronic prescribing.

The electronic prescribing and medicines administration system (EPMA) will reduce the average time taken to complete drug rounds, as well as providing improved efficiency and better clinical oversight.

It will provide NHS staff with quick access vital information on prescribed medicines, reduce duplication of information gathering and medication errors compared to a paper based system.

Paul Matthew, Director of Finance and Digital at ULHT, said: “This investment will make sure our teams are able to access information at the click of a button, enabling them to be able to make clinical decisions much faster and safer than ever before.

“EPMA forms part of our wider programme to introduce electronic patient records across the trust.”

Colin Costello, ULHT’s Chief Pharmacist, added: “There is a wealth of evidence that EPMA systems improve patient safety, reduce the risk of harm and ensure high quality efficient patient care which is as safe as possible.”