Better Data In, Better Data Out: How The NHS Is Improving Data Quality, Govern

A whitepaper exploring how the NHS can build greater trust in the data underpinning its EPRs

The NHS has invested heavily in Electronic Patient Records. But the value of an EPR ultimately depends on whether clinicians and organisations can trust the information within it.

Co-authored by members of the UK EPR Network, this whitepaper explores the practical challenges surrounding EPR data quality – from how information is captured and structured at the point of care to migration, interoperability, governance and the preservation of clinically valuable historical data.

Drawing on real-world case studies, including BridgeHead’s work with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and East Cheshire NHS Trust, it examines how better approaches to healthcare data can support confident clinical decision-making today while creating stronger foundations for analytics, AI and future digital innovation.

Key learnings

• Why data quality should be designed into clinical workflows, rather than corrected retrospectively
• How EPR migration can provide an opportunity to improve data quality
• Why governance, interoperability and clear ownership are essential to maintaining trusted information
• How clinically valuable historic data can be preserved and made accessible through EPR modernisation

Authors:

This whitepaper was co-authored by members of the UK EPR Network – bringing together expertise from leading digital health suppliers and NHS system partners:
Alcidion, Altera Digital Health, BridgeHead Software, IMS Maxims, Ready Computing and the Healthcare Innovation Consortium (HIC).