London Programme for IT

In acute hospitals

Below are some highlights of the progress in deploying electronic patient record systems within acute hospital trusts.

• Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) digital x-ray systems were fully rolled out in March 2007 and are now in use in every London hospital every day. These digital x-ray systems have enabled trusts throughout the capital to produce medical images much quicker, thus shortening the time required for doctors to reach a diagnosis. It also reduces radiation doses to patients, and negates the risk of lost films. In addition to the benefits of an improved quality of service, it is estimated that the increased efficiency of PACS is generating savings of £250,000 per year for each trust
• Eight hospital trusts use Cerner in London: Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, Barts and the London NHS Trust, Homerton Hospital NHS Trust, Kingston Hospital NHS Trust, Newham University Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, South London Healthcare NHS Trust and St George's Heathcare NHS Trust.