University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) has been selected as one of 12 acute trusts to become a global 'digital exemplar' for the NHS. Working in partnership with its EPR supplier, System C Healthcare, UH Bristol will be introducing a wide range of functionality including paperlite working, widespread mobile access, support for new models of care and a patient portal.

NHS England’s Centres of Global Digital Excellence initiative is designed as a springboard to accelerate clinical systems development in the NHS’ most digitally advanced trusts and put them on the world stage. Each Trust will receive up to £10m to advance its systems and share knowledge with other NHS providers.

Robert Woolley, chief executive at UH Bristol, said the Trust was delighted to have been selected as a digital exemplar. “We have a clear strategy of introducing digital systems to support the delivery of safe, high quality and efficient care to patients and all of the systems we deliver contribute towards this.

“With this additional support we will also focus on systems that cross organisational boundaries and work with our NHS partners to deliver innovative digital solutions that will improve care for patients in our area."

Dr Ian Denley, joint CEO at System C, congratulated UH Bristol following this week's announcement. “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Trust on fast-tracking digital innovation,” he said. “This programme will translate to major advances which will benefit UH Bristol, our wider base of 22 hospital Trusts and our future customers.”

Steve Gray, director of UH Bristol’s Clinical Systems Information Programme, said the funded digital exemplar programme would enable the Trust to “accelerate and extend our existing digital programme to give our clinical and administrative teams the tools they need to help deliver safer, better care within UH Bristol and across the city of Bristol.

“Working with System C, we will act as a 'digital mentor' within our local community and across the country with Trusts using similar approaches and systems."