New IT system harms trust’s cancer performance for six months

A trust which is struggling with a new electronic patient record (EPR) is likely to see cancer performance affected for at least the rest of this year, it has said.

Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals Foundation Trust has set up eight workstreams to ensure its EPR – supplied by Oracle Cerner – is “functioning safely, efficiently and as effectively as possible” after a host of problems since it went live in May. Cancer areas affected include breast, breast symptomatic two week waits, and dermatology.

“It is expected that the impact of the introduction of SSC [Surrey Safe Care, the name of the project] will be felt in aspects of our cancer performance until at least December 2022,” July’s board meeting was told.

The performance report warned the risk of delays causing harm to cancer patients – currently rated at 12 on the risk register – was being reviewed as a result of the introduction of SSC and was expected to rise. 

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Source: HSJ, 8 August 2022