Salisbury District Hospital getting £1.2 million for 'e-prescriptions'

There's £1,188,000 going to the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust for this - with our hospital one of 16 organisations around the country getting NHS funding.

It'll be used to make hospital patients records electronic, and bring in e-prescribing too.

That's expected to reduce medication errors by around 30%, compared to using paper systems, while also bringing all of a person's details into one system, instead of sifting through handwritten notes.

It's also hoped it would free up time for staff to spend on caring for patients.

Nadine Dorries, the Government Minister for Patient Safety, said:

"We are determined to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world. The introduction of digital prescribing systems has helped us reduce potentially deadly medication errors and save our hardworking staff valuable time, enabling them to dedicate their full attention and care to patients.

"As we enter what is set to be a challenging winter, the best way we can continue to protect patients and staff is if we all work together and continue to follow the national restrictions to suppress the virus."

Salisbury MP John Glen has also responded to the news, and said:

"I'm delighted to see that the government is taking seriously the challenge of reducing bureaucracy in the NHS, freeing up more resources to help treat patients.

"Investing £1.2 million into digital prescribing at Salisbury District Hospital will improve patient safety and help staff spend more time with the people who need it."

Peter Collins, Medical Director at Salisbury NHS Foundations Trust, said:

"We are delighted to receive national funding to revolutionise our in-patient prescribing and administration process. Currently over 30,000 in-patient prescriptions are hand written each year with nearly 200,000 drugs administered. Moving to an electronic system is a key enhancement to improve patient safety and save our dedicated staff time."