Joined up records systems – enabling safer care

The Lancashire Person Record Exchange Service (LPRES) is thought to be the first real-time exchange system in the UK which enables record sharing between any number of public sector organisations. It is now connecting 200 GP practices with all health providers in Lancashire and discussions are ongoing with the view to connect a further 450 practices in Manchester – with the potential for national coverage.
 

THE CHALLENGE

To find a system which can allow the integration of health records between different public sector organisations, to reduce delays in organising care and receiving test results – while conforming to information governance.

ACTIONS TAKEN

Using strong underpinning infrastructure, international sharing standards and innovative and collaborative work by health and social care organisations, this data exchange platform can connect all health and social care organisations within Lancashire.

It has not involved the creation of a new, central records database. Instead, it enables organisations to access each other’s records systems and to be notified of new records relevant to their patients. This allows instant communication of important information such as test results and discharge summaries.

LPRES now connects more than 200 GP practices in Lancashire to every provider, so that documents can be exchanged between any organisation providing health and social care across Lancashire. It conforms to many international data sharing standards, giving the ability to link to other systems outside Lancashire. The link into Manchester is about to be tested, giving access to a further 450 GP practices.

Currently thousands of documents are being transferred between providers and GP systems and by the end of 2017 that number will rise to more than one million per year.

As part of the LPRES programme an Information Sharing Gateway has been developed to make it possible to check if the correct data sharing agreements are in place and that consent has been given to share that

TESTIMONIAL

Dr Nick Wood, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist and Chief Clinical Information Officer, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals:

“The structure of the health and social care health informatics ‘family’ has meant that Lancashire has been able to draw on the skills and knowledge of experienced individuals from a variety of organisations around the county. This has resulted in a shared vision of how we should use information technology to help deliver care and support health to the citizens of our county.“

BENEFITS

• 200 GP practices connected with every provider in Lancashire
• Information Sharing Gateway tool enables organisations to fulfil information governance requirements
• LPRES reduces delays in transmitting key information such as test results and discharge information – enabling safer care
• Potential to be spread to any number of organisations nationally – and internationally

TIPS FOR ADOPTION

Strong clinical buy-in; the Innovation Agency sponsored two study trips for programme leaders and clinicians, to Austria and Slovenia, after which the clinicians were convinced of the benefits and helping to drive the project.

IT team to understand and fully support the technology; once they have ownership they will help to overcome barriers and achieve results – keeping clinicians and other programme staff engaged and enthused.

Which national clinical or policy priorities does this example address?

Improving patient safety and quality of care Advancing to a paper free NHS