Jersey patient record systems face delays - report

The Government of Jersey Health and Community Service's annual plan report said there were delays to several electronic patient record workstreams

A report has found there were delays to several electronic patient records (EPR) systems in Jersey.

The Government of Jersey's Health and Community Service annual plan report highlighted there would be delays until 2025.

The government said its digital health strategy was a five-year programme, adding its vision was to make Jersey a "digitally-world-class health and care system".

The 2024 report included the progress on its achievement plans between Quarter one (Q1), between January to March, and Q2, between April to June.

'Functionality issues'

The report for Q2 stated the delays to its hospital electronic patient record (EPR) workstreams was due to "patchy WIFI".

It said: "Some of the EPR workstreams are delayed due to dependencies on the hospital WIFI improvement plan.

"Once the patchy WIFI issues in the hospital have been addressed, the WIFI modules can be progressed.

"Workstreams are now scheduled to be implemented into mid-2025."

It said its electronic Patient Medicines Administration (EPMA) roll out was "complete" but its upgrade was "delayed because of some software functionality issues".

'Awaiting further funding'

It said: "Discussions are ongoing with the supplier to assess potential solutions."

The electronic record system for adult social care has been delayed until late 2025 to early 2026, the report stated.

"The forecast for delivery has been delayed into late 2025 early 2026. Discovery work is complete.

"Awaiting further funding to be agreed before commitment can be assured."

The ophthalmology EPR has been put on "hold" due to "resource constraints", according to the report. It added a review was planned for 2025.

Additionally, the report said its primary care system review was on hold as the current contract was being "extended to allow for the capture of detailed requirements and the commercial procurement process to take place".

However, the report has highlighted many of the digital health strategies were "on track" including its general practitioner (GP) order communications with over "70% of GPs" using the system.

Others included the sexual health clinic EPR, cervical cancer screening, e-referral process and e-prescribing chemotherapy.