Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the HSJ Digital Award 2025 in the category Improving Medicines Management and Pharmacy Through Digital, recognising its innovative approach to integrating electronic prescribing and medication administration (ePMA) across care settings.
The winning project brings together Better Meds ePMA, the Somerset Integrated Digital e-Record (SIDeR), and the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) to create a unified, interoperable system for medicines management. It enables clinicians across acute, community, and mental health services to access real-time medication data, improving safety, reducing prescribing delays, and supporting better patient outcomes.
Large-scale integration across care settings
The first-of-type project was implemented across twelve sites, including Musgrove Park and Yeovil District hospitals, as well as eleven community hospitals and hospital-at-home programmes. The deployment was carried out alongside existing digital infrastructure to minimise disruption and ensure continuity of care.
Key features of the project include:
- Real-time access to structured medication data from GP and other providers.
- Integration with EPS for hospital prescriptions, reducing delays and risks associated with paper-based prescribing.
- Use of national FHIR standards for medicines interoperability.
- Co-design with clinicians, patients, and social care providers.
Time-in-motion studies estimate the system will save over 8,900 clinician hours annually during admissions, and 3,100 hours on discharge-related transcription. Additional savings are generated through reduced use of postage and controlled stationery.
“This project demonstrates what’s possible when clinical leadership, digital strategy, and technology come together with a shared goal,” said Leo Martin-Scott, Digital Lead Pharmacist at Somerset FT. “Structured medicines data will save thousands of hours annually, improve accuracy, and enhance care continuity.”
A model for future replication
The integration project also extends across regional boundaries, with collaboration between Somerset FT and Dorset ICB, enabling cross-system access to shared medication records. The Trust has published two national blueprints in partnership with NHS England, accessed over 1,000 times, to support other NHS organisations in adopting similar approaches.
“We are proud to have supported Somerset in such an advanced integration and a first-of-type NHS project,” said Božidarka Radović, Product Director at Better Meds. “This award is a testament to their leadership and vision, and we believe the work done here sets a strong example for national replication.”
The success of the project has been presented at major digital health events, including the Clinical Pharmacy Congress and Rewired, and continues to generate interest as a model for safer, more efficient medication management.
