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Pharmacy teams will use the EPR as part of prescribing, reviewing and managing medicines across our hospitals. Bringing this information into the same patient record will give pharmacy colleagues a clearer view of a patient’s care and support safer, more joined-up working.

One of the biggest changes will be electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA). Prescriptions, medication information and administration records will be managed electronically, making information easier to access and reducing reliance on paper processes.

For pharmacy teams, this should make it easier to review a patient’s current medicines and see relevant clinical information in one place. It will also support closer working with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals involved in a patient’s care.

Moving to the EPR will mean changes to some existing medicines processes and systems. Pharmacy colleagues will be involved in designing and testing these workflows so they work safely and effectively in practice.

Training and support will be provided before go-live, and we’ll share more information about the transition to EPMA as the programme develops.

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Pharmacy FAQs

  • Will the EPR change my day-to-day work?

    Some roles may see changes where their work connects with clinical services, patient areas or information shared through existing processes. The EPR change team are working with staff to help them understand how the EPR will impact their work and prepare for any change.

  • What will happen to medication records when we move to the EPR?

    When we move to the EPR, medication records will be brought into the new system so staff have accurate and up-to-date information about a patient’s medicines. Pharmacy and clinical teams will help plan and test this process before go-live to make sure the transition is safe and accurate.

  • What is EPMA and what will it change?

    Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) will allow medicines to be prescribed and their administration recorded electronically within the EPR. This will give pharmacy and clinical teams clearer, more up-to-date medicines information and reduce reliance on paper processes.

  • Will patients notice a difference?

    Yes. Patients should only need to tell their health story once and it will be recorded in the EPR, along with care and treatment information – available to all those with a legitimate need to see it. This saves them having to keep telling different staff about their health and symptoms.

  • Will it replace my clinical judgement?

    No. NWEPR is a tool to support decision-making, not make decisions for you.

  • How will our EPR make care safer?

    NWEPR brings together up-to-date clinical information in one place and includes safety features such as alerts for allergies, adverse drug reactions, deterioration and other patient risks, supporting decision making.

  • Will I still use paper?

    Many paper forms and processes will be replaced by digital records, although some paper documents may still be needed during the transition.

  • How will the EPR make care more joined-up?

    Instead of switching between multiple systems or waiting for notes, you'll have one place to record and find patient information. Observations, assessments, care plans, medications, referrals and results will be available in real time to the teams involved in a patient’s care.

  • Will our new EPR create more work?

    There will be a learning curve while everyone becomes familiar with the system, so new ways of working may feel slower at first. However, NWEPR is designed to reduce duplication, not add to it. Recording information once, in one place, should make processes smoother and support safer care over time.

  • What is Huron's role?

    Huron Consulting Services UK joined as delivery partner in May 2026. They are working alongside the programme team to design, build and configure the MEDITECH Expanse system for use across all three trusts. Hunter Healthcare is part of the Huron team.

  • Will I spend more time looking at a screen?

    No. The aim is to reduce time spent searching for information, chasing records or documenting the same information more than once, giving you more time to focus on patient care.

  • What is a super user?

    A super user is a colleague from your own area who gets extra training and helps the rest of the team during and after go-live. Because they know both the system and your day-to-day work, they can answer questions and feed common issues back to the programme. Some may get extra permissions to help sort access problems on the spot.

FAQs

Answers to what staff ask us most, from go-live timing to what changes for your role.

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