Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital rolls out EPR
Sapna Davies and Hannah Cheesman using the Apollo EPR system on Powys Ward (Credit: The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) in Shropshire has rolled out an electronic patient record (EPR) system from System C.
The Apollo system, an integrated digital record of patient care that draws together information from all health systems that store patient information and data, went live at the trust between 9 May 2025 and 12 May 2025.
It allows clinicians to order tests or medications electronically, review results remotely and see which beds are in use.
Sam Young, deputy chief nurse and chief nursing information officer at RJAH, said: “Apollo will bring significant benefits for patients, from improving safety and the sharing of information between clinicians; to reducing repeat testing, hospital attendances and admissions; with improved access to appointment booking and rescheduling; and better support for patients to manage their own care.”
The trust signed a 10-year contract with System C in July 2022 for the EPR, which is being funded as part of NHS England’s Digital Aspirant Programme.
The comprehensive solution is made up from a suite of products that are integrated together.
Apollo, which is made up from a suite of products that are integrated together, will replace the RJAH’s existing patient administration systems.
It will be used for administrative and clinical record keeping, as well as to send discharge summaries to local GPs and others outside the trust involved in a patients’ care, such as district nurses.
Guy Lucchi, managing director of healthcare at System C said: “We are delighted to partner with RJAH on this transformative project.
“The Apollo EPR system is designed to empower clinicians with the information they need to provide the best possible care, which will ultimately deliver significant benefits to both patients and the trust.”
Between 9 and 12 May 2025, the RJAH’s teams worked on paper records while information was transferred into the new system and the trust is asking members of the public to be patient with hospital staff as they adapt to the new system.
Mike Carr, chief operations officer at RJAH, said: “To make sure we still provide patients with safe, high-quality care during and after we go-live, we need to operate at a reduced capacity for a few weeks whilst our staff get used to the new ways of working.
“Our highly experienced clinicians are making the decisions to reschedule appointments where necessary, and we are doing our utmost to find the soonest available replacement appointments for those patients affected.
“We also ask people attending for scheduled appointments to be patient if they take a little longer than expected while our staff adapt to a new way of working.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate the support and understanding of our community as we make this significant change to benefit our patients.”
RJAH says that the new integrated solution represents the single biggest investment it has ever made in a technological solution.
