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In February 2010, the National Health Service (NHS) for Scotland and the representatives of the winning bidder signed a national framework contract for the replacement of a collection of patient administration systems with a new Patient Management System (PMS). The PMS will facilitate doctors' and nurses' access to patients' records and will thus enable clinical staff to provide patients with a quicker diagnosis and a better treatment.
The new system is a connected healthcare system that will help to speed and improve the effectiveness of patient care. Patient information will only need to be entered once to the system to make it immediately accessible by authorised staff in other hospital departments. The functions of the new system include: general hospital patient administration with complex scheduling, clinical support tools, order communications functionality and results reporting.
Commenting on this initiative, the Scottish Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon stated: "This contract will enable Health Boards across Scotland to implement a single, nationally available patient management system that will play a major role in improving patient services. Clinicians and patients will both be winners from a system which will track patient journeys from referral to discharge. It means clinicians will have easier and quicker access to medical records and patients will benefit from having more time with healthcare professionals."
Alan Lawrie, the Programme Board Chairman said: "We believe that this solution will play an important role in streamlining patient services leading to faster diagnosis and treatment while enhancing patient safety. Not only will this give us a modern technical base but it has been chosen by the staff who will be using it."
Kerry Stratton, the Healthcare Managing Director of the private company who won the bid said: "The decision to use Health Board staff from many departments in the selection process has given us a clear understanding of NHSScotland's immediate requirements and long-term vision." He also added that the company's main focus will be the delivery of the system's benefits to patients and staff in Scotland.
The contract stands inline with Scotland's eHealth Strategy that will enable any Health Board access to the system and associated modules over the next four years.
Initially the five consortium NHS Boards involved (Ayrshire & Arran, Borders, Grampian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Lanarkshire) will place contracts to the value of £44 million (approx. €50 million). These Boards, together with the NHS Lothian, already running this system, provide care for 70 % of the Scottish population. Additional Health Boards are already in discussion about how this national framework can benefit them. NHS National Services Scotland supported the consortium by providing procurement services.
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