Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) starts digital medicines journey at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) has made the move from paper charts to electronic prescribing and medicines administration at its first pilot site at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr. 

On Monday 8 June, Bargoed Ward, one of the stroke rehabilitation units at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, was the first ward to go live with their electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) system with supplier, Better. 

ABUHB is now the sixth health board in Wales to start using ePMA, allowing healthcare professionals to access patient information, prescribe and administer medicines electronically. This increases patient safety by enabling staff to respond faster to a patient's need for appropriate medication and by reducing prescribing errors. 

Craig Roberts, Assistant Director of Allied Health Professions & Health Science at ABUHB, and Senior Responsible Officer for ABUHB ePMA, said: “This milestone is a reflection of what can be achieved when healthcare professionals, digital specialists, programme teams and partners work together with a shared purpose.  

“The successful go-live at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr has been made possible through the commitment, expertise and collaboration of colleagues from across the Health Board, alongside our supplier, Better.

“Reaching this point represents many months of planning, learning and collective effort, all focused on improving patient safety and supporting our staff to deliver high-quality care. As the first step in our ePMA journey, it provides a strong foundation for the wider rollout across the Health Board.”

Reflecting on the go-live day for the team at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, Dr Lesley Hewer, Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) Chair of the National ePMA Programme, said: “The level of calm from all involved on the day is a true reflection of the level of hard work and commitment that has been dedicated to deliver this transition to electronic prescribing, improving the prescribing process by making it safer for patients and easier for healthcare staff.  

“Congratulations to all who have been a part of this mighty team effort. I look forward to seeing the continued roll out across the health board, improving and optimising the medication processes.” 

ABUHB are also the second health board to both read medicines on hospital admission and write discharge medicines with the Shared Medicines Record (SMR), a key component of the national Digital Medicines Programme managed by DHCW projected to be a consolidated and shared record of medicines, allergies and intolerances for every patient in Wales.