Preferred bidder, InterSystems and the NHS National Services Scotland, have signed a national framework contract for a replacement patient management system for NHSScotland.

 

The solution – InterSystems’ TrakCare – means patient information will only need to be entered once to make it immediately accessibly by authorised staff across all hospital departments. Functions include general hospital patient administration with complex scheduling, clinical support tools, order communications functionality and results reporting.

 

Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, said: “This contract will enable health boards across Scotland to implement a single, nationally-available patient management system that will play a major role in improving patient services. Clinicians and patients will both be winners from a system which will track patient journeys from referral to discharge. It means clinicians will have easier and quicker access to medical records and patients will benefit from having more time with healthcare professionals.”

 

The contract is a national framework in line with the eHealth Strategy that will enable any health board to access the system and associated modules over the next four years.

 

Alan Lawrie, programme board chairman, said: “We believe this solution will play an important role in streamlining patient services leading to faster diagnosis and treatment while enhancing patient safety. Not only will this give us a modern technical base, but it has been chosen by the staff who will be using it.”

 

Kerry Stratton, healthcare managing director at InterSystems, added: “The decision to use health board staff from many departments in the selection process has given us a clear understanding of NHSScotland’s immediate requirements and long-term vision. We are now ready to focus on delivering TrakCare for the benefit of patients and staff across Scotland.”

 

Initially the five Consortium NHS Boards involved – Ayrshire & Arran, Borders, Grampian, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and Lanarkshire – will place contracts to the value of £44m. NHS Lothian has already installed the system across its estates and additional boards are in discussion about how this framework could benefit them too.

 

While InterSystems is delivering the solutions, the procurement side of the contract is being dealt with by NHS National Services Scotland.