8th May 2025
Digital transformation set to improve hospital care for patients in Powys
Patients are set to benefit from an exciting digital transformation in Powys, as a significant step forward is taken towards safer and more efficient prescribing and medicines administration in hospitals.
Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) has chosen Better as its technology partner to support delivery of electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA), which will revolutionise medicines management within the health board’s community hospitals and other healthcare settings.
This new digital system will streamline prescribing by replacing the use of paper in hospitals, freeing up time for clinicians. ePMA will help to ensure that information is captured accurately, up to date and readily available, which will reduce the risk of medication errors and improve patient care.
The implementation of ePMA in Wales is a key part of the national Digital Medicines programme, led by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) and support and funded by Welsh Government.
Dr Kate Wright, Medical Director for Powys Teaching Health Board, said: “By moving to a fully digital system for prescribing and medicine management in Powys hospitals, we will be able to increase patient safety and simplify processes for staff. I am really excited for this project to be rolled out across Powys and I’m grateful for the investment from Welsh Government.”
The ePMA programme will provide several benefits to colleagues and patients such as access to digital records 24/7, a reduction in administrative errors and the ability to audit prescribing and administrative activity.
Dr Lesley Hewer, DCHW Chair of the National ePMA Programme, said: “The clinical staff in Powys Teaching Health Board have worked hard with their digital colleagues to ensure that the system which best suits their needs has been chosen. The new digital system will help improve patient safety through a reduction in medication errors and will help us decrease our use of paper, which will not only just save time searching for charts but will also help the environment, too.”
Božidarka Radović, Product Director for Better Meds, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Powys Teaching Health Board to support their journey toward safer and more efficient medicines management. By streamlining processes and ensuring accurate, accessible information, we look forward to supporting clinicians in delivering safer, more efficient care to patients across Powys. We believe this collaboration is a natural extension of our mission to improve patient safety and enhance the quality of care.”
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales, Andrew Evans, said: “This is excellent news for clinicians who are providing excellent care and patients receiving it in hospitals within the Powys Teaching Health Board area. This announcement is yet another important milestone reached in Wales’ national ePMA programme which will result in significant improvements in safety and efficiency in every health board and trust in Wales.”
PTHB is the latest health board to announce a partnership with Better, following announcements from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board who have also selected the supplier. You can read more about the national ePMA programme here.