CHORLEY and South Ribble Hospital is aiming to replace its paper-based patient records system with electronic records by May next year.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has contracted digital technology firm Kainos to roll out the programme, which is already working across some medical specialties. Janet Young, business improvement and performance manager at the trust, said: “Initially we were looking for a straightforward scanning and digitisation solution so we could move away from paper patient records, but as we refined our needs we realised we needed more intelligent casenotes, to give consultants the latest clinical information at their fingertips and avoid the risk of patients’ visits being cancelled due to missing casenotes and offering our clinical teams an intelligent patient record.

“Clinical engagement is fundamental to the success of the programme and any future developments. We are very fortunate to have strong clinical leadership and executive support.”