Mental health patients in Wrexham are the first in north Wales to benefit from new technology that makes prescribing easier and safer for them and the healthcare staff managing their medication.
Mental health wards at Wrexham Maelor Hospital are now using electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA), which helps clinicians deliver more efficient care. In addition – and in an exciting first for Wales – hospital discharge medicines are being recorded in the Shared Medicines Record (SMR) which, when rolled out, will lead to a single and secure record of medicines, allergies and intolerances for every patient registered with a GP practice in Wales.
Jane Brady, BCU Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO), said: “The ePMA go-live in some of our Mental Health inpatient areas is a landmark in BCUHB’s digital transformation journey.
“Clinical teams have embraced the change, and digital prescribing is already driving safer care, reducing variation, and improving patient outcomes.
“We’re also excited to share that hospital discharge medicines are now being shared with the Shared Medicines Record (SMR), helping to create a single, comprehensive record of medicines and allergies.”
ePMA replaces paper charts, streamlining prescribing and reducing the risk of medication errors. It also helps to reduce the amount of paper printed by NHS Wales.
The launch in Wrexham marks the first ‘early adopter’ wards in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to use the system and will be followed by a full roll out across north Wales in early 2026.
Dr Lesley Hewer, Chair of the National Secondary Care ePMA Programme, said: “It is exciting to see ePMA arrive at BCUHB, as digital prescribing is revolutionising the way healthcare is delivered in hospitals in Wales and bringing about increased safety for patients.
“It’s wonderful also to see BCUHB taking the first step towards a Shared Medicines Record for Wales.
This will bring together everything in one place, allowing healthcare professionals to access the information they need without a patient having to repeat the same details every time they see a new member of staff.
“The SMR is fully secure and the information it stores helps support clinical decisions and reduce risk when care is transferred from one point to another.”
BCUHB is the first health board in Wales to launch ePMA with specialist software from technology partner Better, which is one of three providers supporting the national programme.
Božidarka Radović, Better Meds Product Director, said: “BCUHB’s go-live marks a major milestone for digital medicines management in Wales, and we’re proud that it is the first organisation in the country to go live with Better Meds and the Shared Medicines Record integration. This moment represents the beginning of a national effort to bring safer, more connected medication management to every corner of Wales. It reflects the strong partnership we’ve built with the clinical teams, and we’re excited to continue this work together as the programme expands.”
The launch is a big step forward for Digital Medicines, which is part of the Welsh Government’s move to transform patient care across Wales. BCUHB joins Swansea Bay and Cardiff and Vale University Health Boards in introducing the new software on their wards.
Andrew Evans, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales, said: “The announcement that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is the first health board to write medicines information from its hospital ePMA system into the national Shared Medicines Record is a landmark moment in the journey to deliver the Welsh Government’s commitment to fully implement digital prescribing across all hospitals and primary care.”
DHCW is working with every health board in Wales and Velindre University NHS Trust to roll out ePMA in phases, with all making exciting progress towards implementing new software in hospitals.
