Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has gone live with the second phase of its acute electronic patient record (EPR) system.

The first phase of the trust’s Nervecentre EPR launched in November 2025, introducing electronic observations and clinical photography, with a patient investigations feature introduced in December.

Phase two, launched in May 2026, expands the system’s functionality. Urgent and emergency care teams can now document patient care directly in Nervecentre, while clinical documentation, internal referrals, bed management and outpatient e-observations are also completed in the system.

Clinicians can access historic records, clinic letters and administrative correspondence through the EPR, supporting faster clinical decision-making.

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director and executive lead for digital, said: “This is one of the most significant transformations in the way we deliver and record care we have undertaken at HDFT.

“The new EPR will help us document more consistently, access information more quickly and make safer decisions at every stage of the patient journey.

“The EPR improves patient safety, reduces the risk of errors and frees up clinician time so teams can focus on delivering excellent care.

“The go‑live is a really positive step forward for our clinical teams and our patients and will make a real difference in the day‑to‑day care we can provide.

“My thanks go to all colleagues who have worked tirelessly to make the go-live a success. We very much appreciate the fantastic co-working between clinical, digital and operational colleagues and for everyone’s commitment to delivering this major transformation programme”.

HDFT selected Nervecentre as its preferred EPR supplier in August 2024, with the contract expected to last 10 years.

By bringing patient information into one secure system, the trust said the EPR is intended to improve care coordination, reduce duplication and cut reliance on paper.

The EPR has been co-designed with the trust’s clinical teams, to ensure it meets the needs of those who use it every day and delivers real improvements for patients.

Paul Volkaerts, chief executive at Nervecentre Software, said: “Congratulations to Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust on their successful go-live with Nervecentre.

“This milestone is particularly significant as it includes several first-of-type deployments, demonstrating both innovation and a shared commitment to advancing digital healthcare.

“The smooth and successful go-live is a testament to the outstanding teamwork, dedication and project management shown by colleagues at both HDFT and Nervecentre.”

HDFT is part of a joint EPR programme with York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which delayed the go-live of its Nervecentre EPR, scheduled for February 2026, “to focus on maximising elective activity and recovering urgent and emergency care performance”.