Hospital patients set to benefit from digital prescribing in Hywel Dda University Health Board
July 4th, 2025
Patients and healthcare staff in west Wales are set to benefit from a digital system that will streamline prescribing in secondary services.
Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) has selected Better as its preferred technology partner to deliver electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA), which will see the roll out of digital systems to replace paper-based processes.
The system will reduce the risk of medication errors by ensuring prescriptions are clear, legible and complete, with built-in safety checks for allergies and dosage accuracy.
Hywel Dda UHB joins other health boards in Wales in taking this significant step forward in delivering electronic prescribing in hospitals. The ePMA system is part of the national Digital Medicines programme, led by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), to ensure that the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines is easier, safer and more efficient for patients and clinicians.
Anthony Tracey, Digital Director at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Electronic prescribing is an important step in our digital transformation and will enable seamless communication between departments and healthcare professionals. The implementation of ePMA will help ensure medication information is accurate and up-to-date, freeing time spent by staff for prescribing, checking, supplying, and administering medicines.
“We look forward to collaborating with Better and health board colleagues over the coming months as we prepare to integrate the ePMA system across our hospital sites.”
Dr Lesley Hewer, DHCW Chair of the National ePMA Programme, said: “It is so good to see Hywel Dda UHB joining the other health boards in Wales who have signed contracts with their respective electronic prescribing suppliers.
“The positive impact for patient safety includes staff being able to respond faster to a patient's need for appropriate medication. ePMA has many additional patient safety functions, one of which will be to send an alert to staff to check any medication interactions. It also aims to reduce the use of paper.”
Better Client Director Adrian Aggett said: “We’re proud to partner with Hywel Dda University Health Board, our fourth health board in Wales, following Betsi Cadwaladr, Powys and Aneurin Bevan. This continued momentum across Wales reflects a shared commitment to improving how medication is managed. We’re excited to support Hywel Dda and their teams on their digital journey and contribute to better care for their patients.”
The national ePMA programme is supported and funded by Welsh Government and is part of the digital transformation taking place across Wales to improve care and treatment.
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales Andrew Evans said: “The shift to digital prescribing across all hospitals and primary care is supporting an increase in NHS productivity and leading to further improvements in the safe and effective use of medicines.
“Today’s announcement that Hywel Dda University Health Board will roll out ePMA delivers on the Welsh Government’s commitment to fully implement electronic prescribing in Wales.”
Hywel Dda UHB serves a population of more than 385,000 people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Photo, l-r: Helena Dunne, Lead Pharmacist for Digital Medicines Management Systems; Iain Mackintosh, Senior Digital Project Manager; Gemma Brown, E-Prescribing Nurse Facilitator