Digitising the frontline in the North West

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT)

The mental health and community trust introduced a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) in a staggered roll-out between 2018 and 2021 and has made a number of digital improvements for both their patients and staff.

The trust adopted a new advice and guidance system that allows GPs to raise a query digitally through a patient’s EPR to the consultant psychiatrist team. A consultant psychiatrist can then directly provide the GP with clinical advice.

The functionality reduces the number of traditional referrals to mental health (MH) services. Using this new channel, for some patients all they need to do is see their GP who will message the psychiatrist who will then message back within a few days recommending appropriate treatment. This means quicker care and fewer repeat appointments.

For more information on Lancashire and South Cumbria’s work read the full case study.

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

A specialist paediatric trust, Alder Hey has made changes to improve patient safety, staff experience and has used innovative technology to improve their young patients’ experience of going to hospital.

The trust introduced “closed loop technology” - that scans the barcode on a patient’s wristband - and then verifies this against the medication being given to ensure the right person is getting the right drug. This safety measure has seen a 50% reduction in error since it was introduced. Alder Hey has also produced its own ‘Symptom Checker’ which is used by families to check a child’s symptoms to then in turn be directed to the most appropriate service, as well as tailored advice and guidance from Alder Hey clinicians.

The reliance on data and analytics for our clinical and operational services at Alder Hey has never been greater. The use of data has increased dramatically over the past two years in line with the pandemic and great strides have been taken in ensuring clinical outcomes and population health management are data driven.

As we continue to deliver the Digital and Data Futures Strategy, key upcoming projects include the delivery of a bespoke patient portal for children and families to engage with, implementation of a new analytics portal, a successful electronic patient record upgrade and continued improvement around our technical infrastructure.

For more information on Alder Hey’s work read the full case study.