Contract Overview

The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust has awarded a £52 million contract to Epic for the implementation of a new electronic patient record (EPR) system. This contract spans a duration of ten years, extending the trust’s digital capabilities until 2036.

Background and Challenges

• The trust’s board discussed the board assurance framework in its January meeting, highlighting concerns regarding IT infrastructure, digital maturity, and technical debt.
• Currently, the trust has a phased rollout of its existing EPR system, which has resulted in a partially deployed EPR for acute services and a separate community EPR.
• Only 80% of clinical systems are integrated with the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Patient Master Index.

Implementation Timeline

The EPR business case was presented to the national EPR Investment Board in January to secure eligibility for Frontline Digitisation funding. The anticipated go-live date for the new system is set for April 27. The trust will collaborate with the existing GSTT and Kings partnership through a connect model, which aims to streamline the implementation process.

Wider Context in EPR Developments

Other NHS trusts are also advancing their EPR systems:

• The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is working on its Future Christie programmes, with a full EPR business case expected in Q3 2026.
• Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust has signed a contract with The Access Group for their Rio Evo EPR, with a go-live planned for April 2027.
• Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has entered a 10-year agreement for the Nervecentre electronic patient record system, valued at £53 million.

Conclusion

This contract marks a significant step for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust in enhancing its digital health infrastructure, aiming to improve patient care and operational efficiency.