Six out of London's 10 mental-health trusts are now using computerised patient-record systems.
Delivered as part of the £12bn National Programme for IT (NPfIT), the systems are a step towards the creation of the integrated electronic NHS Care Records Service. The systems now allow authorised care providers in the mental-health community quicker access to accurate information about patients.
NPfIT local service provider BT has now installed systems in the North East London; West London; South West London and St George's; East London and the City; and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS mental-health trusts.
The electronic patient-records system has caused huge friction within the healthcare community, with many clinicians voicing fears over the security of the information and confidentiality issues.
But consultants at these six London trusts believe that they are now providing enhanced patient care by giving healthcare staff access to up-to-date information about patients around the clock.
"In the early stages, people were still in a culture shock," remarked Dr Hashim Reza, a consultant psychiatrist and clinical director at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. "Change on this kind of scale takes people a while to adjust to."
Dr Morris Zwi, a consultant psychiatrist at South West London and St George's, said: "The new system is especially useful in cases where many health professionals are involved, for instance, in eating disorders."
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"Each patient works with at least a psychiatrist, dietician and family therapist. Sometimes it's very difficult for us all to catch up and see how patients are progressing. Now getting hold of the most up-to-date information from each member of the care team is straight forward," said Dr Zwi.
Dr Reza added: "The true beneficiaries of this project are patients, and it is heartening that these advances are taking place in the mental-health sector, which is so often at the back of the queue."
