A PIONEERING new computer system has been launched this week to keep track of patients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

The Vic's accident and emergency branch has become the first in the country to install the new state-of-the-art system that will allow staff to gain instant access to information about all patients in the department.

As people arrive at the accident and emergency reception, their personal and visit details, current problem and treatment priority are recorded in the new system -- called the A&Ev5.

While patients wait to be seen, their location and current treatment status will be recorded in "real time", thus allowing clinicians and A&E staff to be constantly aware of pressures on specific areas, assisting in the re-deployment of staff and hopefully cutting down on waiting periods.

Nick Harrop, the clinical director for A&E, said: "Blackpool has one of the busiest A&E departments in the country. The doctors and nurses are trying to give treatment to large numbers of patients and at the same time are having to make their clinical records and take enquiries from patients and relatives.

"The old method of record-keeping was quite time-consuming. This new system allows us to get a very rapid assessment of how many patients we have in the department, who they are, what they have come in with and their priority for treatment."

The installation of the system is a result of 18 months of careful planning by the Trust's A&E and IT departments. It has cost £67,000 to get up and running, which has been funded from the Government's modernisation fund.

IT project manager Bridget Evans said: "The challenges involved have been many, but the resulting product will deliver benefits to staff and patients alike. It will also act as a foundation for the continuing development of electronic patient-based clinical systems within the Trust."