Warrington looks to replace Meditech PAS

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is overhauling its IT estate in an £11m project that includes replacing its patient administration system and the procurement of a clinical portal.

According to a tender document, the trust is looking to replace the Meditech PAS that it has had since 1997 with a “broadly comparable” patient management system.

This will cost an estimated £6m, including the necessary functionality to interoperate with Warrington and Halton’s existing clinical systems.

The trust also wishes to procure a clinical portal patient record system that will interface initially with the Meditech PAS, as well as three of its other systems; the radiology information system, pathology information system and a clinical system.

Warrington’s draft descriptive document states that the three year contract for the replacement PAS should include a range of functions, including a single master patient index, bed management and discharge and order communications.

There is scope for the deal to be extended up to a maximum of six years. The trust has published a forward plan strategy document running to 2014.

It includes an IM&T strategy implementation plan that identifies the delivery of a new PAS as a “key action” to make sure that patients experience the best possible care, the trust becomes the “employer of choice” for the healthcare it delivers, and that it provides “sustainable local health services.”

The trust is set to dispatch invitations to tender to selected candidates next week.

The trust’s decision to acquire a clinical portal is motivated by a list of “non-exhaustive objectives” including; reducing the level of clinical risk and improving clinical governance, lowering its reliance on paper, providing clinical staff with an agreed minimum dataset, improving information provision to clinicians and enhancing the delivery of clinical audits.

The tender says Warrington and Halton values the seven year portal contract at £5m, with a three year option to extend.

The chosen supplier will be expected to supply Warrington Hospital and Halton General Hospital, including the former Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre, which has been purchased by the trust and is located on the Halton site.

The deadline for receipt of tenders for the portal element of the project is 21 August.