AN IT SYSTEM set to revolutionise patient care across Cumbria is now being rolled out by the county's healthcare bosses.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust unveiled the new technology which it claims will save it £30million over the next five years.

"Cumbria’s geography combined with limited wi-fi connectivity and transport links mean we face a unique set of challenges when it comes to delivering healthcare both in hospitals and in patients’ homes," explained Claire Molloy, chief executive of the trust.

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"This new technology will allow for agile working across the county.

"The improvements in technology will allow our clinicians to deliver the highest quality of care in both hospitals and in patients’ homes."

A spokeswoman for the trust explained the new system is expected to give Cumbria’s clinicians the ability to access information 'at their fingertips'.

This will allow for more 'efficient, collaborative working' within children’s services and mental health services.

"These groups will reap real benefits from this increased clinical effectiveness that will result in improved care for their patients," added the spokeswoman.

"These developments won’t just revolutionise health care facilities, in the future patients themselves will also be able to view their own health records online at home gaining greater control of their own care."

It is the largest IT investment in the trust’s history and has cost over £10m- but three times this is expected to be saved through, among other things, reduced travel costs for staff.

The trust received £5.2m towards the total cost from NHS England through the 'Safer Hospitals, Safer Wards' technology fund.

As part of the programme two key contracts have now been signed off: one with Servelec Healthcare to move from paper to 'Electronic Patient Record RiO' in some key services and with Bull IT for its IT infrastructure.

The new infrastructure roll-out has begun and will continue over the next two years.