max20 Project Solutions – the Altrincham-based company which delivers digital transformation projects for the NHS – has played a key role in the successful roll-out of electronic patient records across 10 Manchester hospitals.
The launch of the new system, which is now live across all Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) sites, was one of the biggest and most ambitious transformation projects in the history of the NHS. max20’s role covered a period of almost two years and included cleansing and validating the data to ensure it was fit for purpose.
MFT’s new system, known as Hive, provides a single hospital record for every patient, replacing hundreds of previous systems in different locations and departments. It will provide a smoother experience for both patients and staff, improving safety and operational efficiency and driving new opportunities for research and innovation. Patients will also have more control over their own care through the dedicated patient app, MyMFT.
Before making the transition to the new platform, almost 750,000 existing patient records had to be cleansed to ensure the quality and reliability of patient data. max20 carried out the work using a team of over 100 subject matter experts including clerks, data validators and data quality experts who were embedded with MFT staff at several different locations, The project began in July 2021, with work continuing after the initial launch of the system in September last year.
max20’s role included identifying and removing duplicate records, correcting any errors and standardising data formats, validating the data to ensure it was accurate and formatted correctly for the new system, and ensuring data privacy. One issue that had to be resolved was the large number of ‘open registrations’ – records created when a patient is referred to a consultant then goes back to their GP, but the referral is not closed on the system.
It is believe that around 88 per cent of secondary care trusts currently have electronic patient records (EPRs) in place, but the government wants all trusts to have them implemented by March 2025. MFT is one of a number of trusts which max20 has been assisting to introduce EPR solutions.
Don Tomlinson, managing director of max20, said: “Electronic patient records will revolutionise healthcare and NHS trusts around the UK are engaged in a push to get systems in place to meet the government’s timeline. We are proud to have worked alongside the MFT team on this project.
“MFT is the largest NHS trust in the country and its EPR solution is one of the most ambitious transformation projects in NHS history. It is all the more appropriate since one of the hospitals involved, Trafford General, was the birthplace of the NHS 75 years ago. It has given the team great satisfaction to know that their work in supporting the roll-out of the Hive system will improve patient care and help it to prepare for the future.”
max20 has over 20 years’ experience working in partnership with the NHS to deliver IT and digital projects. The firm assembles specialist teams with the right mix of skills for each project and offers guaranteed delivery at an agreed cost.
