Croydon live with Cerner

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust went live with Cerner Millennium in its A&E and inpatients departments yesterday.

It is the first community provider in the UK to go-live with the electronic patient record system, with further roll-outs planned over the next week.

A trust spokesperson told EHI: “The introduction of CRS Millennium at Croydon Health Services is a really positive step in our drive to constantly improve the health services we offer to local people.

"The system was put into operation today (30 September) in our emergency and inpatient departments and will be rolled out to other areas over the next week."

The deployment is the first National Programme for IT implementation of the system by BT since North Bristol NHS Trust went live in December 2011.

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust deployed Millennium outside of the programme in June 2012.

The Croydon spokesperson said the new system will give everyone working at the trust better access to information and an "accurate picture of what all of our services are doing."

"This will allow staff to make quicker, more informed decisions about the care patients need. It will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care," it added.

"CRS Millennium is more than just a new information technology system: it is a vital tool that will enable CHS to achieve its goals for the future."

Croydon Healthcare, which employs more than 600 clinicians in 30 services, had been planning to go-live with Millennium towards the end of 2012, but deployment was delayed.

The trust was formed in August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and acute provider Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust.

A BT spokesperson said: “BT is continuing to work closely with the trust, Cerner and the Health and Social Care Information Centre to support the implementation of Cerner Millennium at Croydon Health Services.”