£800,000 awarded to Kent and Medway NHS for new digital prescription system

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) is one of 25 trusts to receive funding as part of a £78 million investment to improve patient care by speeding up the introduction of electronic prescribing systems across the NHS.

Last year, 13 other trusts received a share of £16 million and this year’s allocation of money forms part of the second wave of funding earmarked for improvements within the NHS over the next three years.

KMPT will use the £800,000 to implement digital prescription technology and move away from handwritten prescriptions. By upgrading to more efficient systems it is hoped that it will ultimately help to save the NHS time and benefit patients by:

• reducing medication errors by up to 30% compared with the old paper systems
• ensuring fast access to potentially lifesaving information on prescribed medicines
• building up a complete, single electronic record to reduce duplication of information-gathering.

Plans are already being put into motion at KMPT and Chief pharmacist, Jon Stock, said:

“We are all really pleased to have secured this investment. The electronic prescribing system project board is due to meet so we can progress the implementation of the new system as soon as possible.

“We have identified the software we are going to use and will be arranging a number of demonstrations across the trust early next year to showcase it. The system will be used on our inpatient wards initially; however, we hope to roll it out across our crisis and community teams in time. 

“We expect that the system will reduce medication errors and clinical time spent on prescribing and administering medication as well as improving communication about medication both internally and externally.”

Minister for Health, Edward Argar, said:

“Electronic prescriptions in our hospitals will not only do away with old fashioned paper prescriptions but can help prevent avoidable and potentially catastrophic medication errors.

“As part of our long term plan for the NHS we’re committed to giving our hardworking staff access to modern systems which save them valuable time and make every penny of taxpayers’ money count.

“Following the previous funding announcement, I’m delighted to confirm the funding allocations for these 25 trusts as part of our mission to upgrade NHS hospitals with modern technology so patients get the best and safest care possible.

Other successful trusts include acute, mental health and community services. View the list of trusts that will receive a share of the funding.