Amanda Nash (Head of Communications, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust), Sarah Brampton (Deputy Chief Executive, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust), and Sally King (Senior Clinical Information Officer, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust) presented an update on the implementation of the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) and discussed:

a)     Epic was the Electronic Patient Record system being implemented at Derriford Hospital from July, replacing a largely paper?based and fragmented set of clinical systems with a fully digital hospital record;

b)    The system would provide a single, unified patient record accessible across services, enabling clinicians to view scans, test results and clinical notes in one place and improving continuity of care;

c)     Patients would be able to access elements of their hospital record digitally, including via a mobile application, supporting greater transparency and engagement;

d)    Epic had been selected following a robust procurement process, with consideration of multiple systems available on the market;

e)     Epic was already in use within the UK, including at Royal Devon, Torbay, Cambridge University Hospitals, University College London Hospitals, Manchester, Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Royal Marsden;

f)      Adoption of Epic across Plymouth, Royal Devon, Torbay and North Devon would create a shared county?wide system, allowing staff and patients to access records seamlessly across sites;

g)     The shared system would support staff working across organisations and improve joined?up care for patients receiving treatment at more than one hospital;

h)    Epic had been live at Royal Devon since 2020, providing assurance on system maturity, stability and usability;

i)      The organisation placed strong importance on Epic’s values, ethics and commitment to reinvesting in healthcare improvement;

j)      The introduction of Epic would significantly improve care coordination, reducing the need for patients to repeatedly share their medical history with different services;

k)     Digital records and embedded clinical decision support would enhance patient safety, supporting clinicians with prompts and alerts while retaining professional autonomy;

l)      The system would support more collaborative conversations with patients, enabling shared decision?making and improving patient experience;

m)   Digital communication options would improve efficiency for patients who chose to engage electronically, while alternative non?digital routes would remain available;

n)    Epic would provide opportunities for greater consistency and standardisation across departments, while allowing variation where clinically appropriate;

o)    The local patient portal was branded as “My Care”, known nationally within Epic as “MyChart”;

p)    Over 250,000 patients were already registered to use My Care at Royal Devon, with approximately 70,000 patients actively logging in;

q)    Patients could view appointments, test results and selected clinical information via the portal, without providing access to the full clinical record;

r)     Proxy access allowed patients with capacity to share access with carers or family members, with clinically led best?interest decisions applied where patients lacked capacity;

s)     Survey findings from Royal Devon were highlighted, including:

                 i.         A 2024 survey showed 90% user satisfaction, with key benefits including rapid access to test results, appointment information and reminders;

                ii.         Feedback highlighted the importance of greater integration across hospital services and with primary care;

              iii.         A repeat survey in 2026 showed increased registration and a further 5% increase in satisfaction;

t)     Integration with the NHS App was discussed, including:

                 i.         Hospital appointment information was now visible in the NHS App at Royal Devon and would be available at Torbay and UHP following go?live;

                ii.         Phase one integration provided view?only access, with plans for single sign?on and deeper integration subject to national NHS England timelines;

              iii.         The integration would allow seamless navigation between the NHS App and My Care;

u)    Communications and engagement activity was outlined, including:

                 i.         Patient information materials, QR codes, posters, leaflets and social media campaigns;

                ii.         Training and awareness sessions for staff, encouraging colleagues to act as ambassadors for My Care;

              iii.         Plans to train volunteers as digital champions to support patient sign?up.

In response to questions, the Panel discussed:

v)     Digital inclusion and the needs of older patients, with reassurance that digital access would remain optional and alternative communication methods would always be available based on patient preference;

w)   Data security and digital sovereignty, with officers confirming that Epic met robust UK information governance requirements, that data access was tightly controlled, and that cyber?security risks were actively managed and continually reviewed;

x)    Handling of sensitive test results, with officers explaining that embargo periods were in place and that results release strategies balanced clinical safety with patient transparency;

y)     Readiness for implementation, including extensive workflow testing, change management programmes, and the use of approximately 300 subject matter experts and a network of trained “super users”;

z)     Mutual support across Devon organisations, with staff from Royal Devon and Torbay supporting Plymouth’s July go?live;

aa)  Positive patient and staff experience of Epic at other sites and confidence in its benefits once fully implemented.

The Panel agreed

1.     To note the Electronic Patient Record update.