11 March 2026
We have introduced a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system to better support the delivery of high-quality care with a more modernised and intuitive approach to recording and viewing patient information.
An EPR is used by many Trusts across the NHS to safely store and manage healthcare information, ensuring clinicians have up-to-date and accurate information when they need it. Records can include medical history, medications, test results, assessments, consultations and care plans.
We previously used a digital system called Carenotes which has come to the end of its life. To ensure continuity, safety and improved service delivery, we have now adopted SystmOne, a more modern platform which will better meet the needs of people who work in and use our services. It will:
- Improve communication between teams and partner organisations
- Provide a single, up-to-date patient record accessible to authorised staff whenever and wherever needed
- Reduce duplication and paperwork, freeing up more time for patient care
- Support better digital integration with other local NHS services.
SystmOne is already widely used across Sussex, including by around half of GP practices, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Oliver Dale, Chief Medical Officer for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “People relying on our care quite rightly expect us to have the information we need to care for them effectively at our fingertips. This new system will help us support the Sussex Health and Care Integrated Care System to provide better, faster, more coordinated care and will reduce the need for people to have to repeat their story as they move through our services.
Change can be difficult, and with a change of this size we had anticipated that there would be challenges. In the first few weeks we have seen issues with staff being able to access and use the system, which we know has been frustrating and disruptive. However, with significant effort and focus from colleagues and teams across the Trust we are now in a much better position and staff are starting to get into the rhythm of using the new system.
Over the coming weeks and months, we will be looking at the things we can do to ensure that we are using the new system to the best of its capabilities. This will include a standardisation of the types of forms we use in our processes to improve how we can collect and compare our data.
I am heartened to see that already in these early days we are starting to receive positive feedback and see examples of how the new system is improving our practice as we work more closely with our partners to provide joined-up care for the communities we serve."
For more about the new electronic patient record, and how to ask questions you might have about it, go to: www.
