Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care rolls out Rio EPR

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has rolled out the Rio electronic patient record (EPR) system, supplied by The Access Group.

The project aims to improve care delivery across the trust’s sites. The EPR system, which went live across the trust on 12 May 2025, connects multiple systems into one, where staff can access patients’ health and care information quickly and securely.

Lisa Yates, director of digital and chief information officer at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “Initial feedback from staff has been very positive and it is already helping us transform care delivery for both patients and staff.

“While we are still in the early stages, we are really excited to see what other opportunities this project brings in future.

“This project was a major undertaking, which required lots of planning and testing across various departments.

“Staff have really embraced a digital first mindset during this whole process.”

The system is part of a plan to streamline workflows across the organisation, reducing administrative burden for staff and enhancing patient experiences.

It also brings enhanced security features, helping to protect sensitive patient data.

Commenting on the launch, Dermot Ryan, director of digital transformation at NHSE, said: “The major upgrade of the EPR system at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust marks a significant achievement.

“By integrating multiple systems into one unified platform, this project provides the potential to boost productivity by streamlining workflows, reducing administrative tasks, and improving data accessibility.

“It also sets the digital foundations for many innovative technologies which will further support clinical practice and enhance patient care.

“The encouraging feedback already received by the trust demonstrates the immediate impact and signals the beginning of much more benefits realisation to come.”

Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Trust previously used the Carenotes EPR from OneAdvanced, until it was revealed that the supplier was removing it from its product portfolio last year.

In February 2024, the trust announced its decision to procure the Rio EPR from The Access Group.

Steve Wightman, managing director for Access Healthcare, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s digital transformation.

“Their forward-thinking approach and utilisation of digital tools will support efficient, high-quality care across the region.”

Meanwhile, in March 2023, Somerset County Council became the first local authority in England to deploy an EPR when it went live with Rio.

Later in 2023, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust announced that it rolled out the Rio EPR in just eight weeks.