Velindre University NHS Trust has chosen Better Meds, the electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) solution from Better, to replace paper-based medication processes with a fully digital system, making prescribing and administration safer, faster, and more efficient for both patients and clinicians.
With this step, Velindre joins Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Powys Teaching Health Board, and Hywel Dda University Health Board, marking fifth ePMA partnership for Better in Wales and further advancing the country’s vision for connected, data-driven care.
Better Meds enables healthcare professionals to prescribe, review, and administer medicines digitally, ensuring prescriptions are clear, legible, and complete. Built-in safety features check for allergies, interactions, and dosage accuracy, reducing the risk of medication errors and supporting safer, more consistent care.
“With Velindre adopting Better Meds, Wales continues to make great progress towards safer medication management and more connected healthcare,” said Adrian Aggett, Better Client Director. “As our fifth partnership in Wales, this collaboration reflects a shared national ambition to equip clinicians with better digital tools and ensure patients receive the safest and most consistent care possible.”
Nicola Williams, Executive Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Health Science at Velindre University NHS Trust, added: “The introduction of electronic prescribing at Velindre marks a major milestone in our commitment to patient safety and high-quality care. By replacing paper-based systems with digital processes, we’re reducing the risk of medication errors and ensuring our patients receive the safest and most effective treatment possible.”
Dr Lesley Hewer, Chair of the National ePMA Programme, said: “We’re delighted to see Velindre University NHS Trust joining health boards in Wales who have signed contracts with their respective ePMA suppliers. Electronic prescribing increases safety by enabling staff to respond faster to a patient’s need for appropriate medication and by reducing prescribing errors. It also benefits the environment as it aims to reduce our use of paper.”
Andrew Evans, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales, commented: “The shift to digital prescribing across all hospitals and primary care is supporting increasing NHS productivity and leading to further improvements in the safe and effective use of medicines. The announcement that Velindre University NHS Trust is rolling out ePMA to its specialist cancer and blood services is yet another example of the excellent progress being made to deliver the Welsh Government’s commitment to fully implement electronic prescribing in Wales.”
The rollout at Velindre is part of the Digital Medicines Programme, led by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) and supported by the Welsh Government, which aims to ensure that the prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medicines are safer, more efficient, and easier for patients and clinicians.
By adopting Better Meds, Velindre University NHS Trust is taking another step toward safer, smarter medication management, one that supports both frontline staff and the national goal of delivering seamless, sustainable digital healthcare for all of Wales.
