June 2021
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Welsh nursing undergoes digital revolution
A brand new, digital way of working has been introduced for nurses and other hospital staff in Wales. This marks a pivotal moment in the history of nursing, one that will completely change working practices for nurses and other members of the multi-disciplinary teams in Wales.

A new system, the Welsh Nursing Care Record, is transforming nursing documentation by standardising forms, and turning them from paper to digital. For the first time ever, nurses will be able to complete assessments at a patient’s bedside on a mobile tablet, or other handheld device, saving time, improving accuracy, and minimising duplication.

Data from the WNCR will be used to drive developments in learning across organisations in health and care in Wales to improve patient outcomes and experiences. The new system will enhance efficiency, value, and timeliness of care with the aim of improving patient safety.

Patients and staff will be able to move across services in Wales using the single WNCR system, ensuring consistency and accuracy. When a patient is discharged from hospital, digital assessments taken by nurses involved in their care will be made available to the national, digital patient record, the Welsh Clinical Portal (WCP). This means that the information will follow the patient wherever their care is provided in Wales.

The project has involved nurses and multidisciplinary team members from every NHS health board and trust in Wales, working together for over three years to standardise the forms and create the new digital process. A Clinical Nursing Lead is now employed in each health board and trust to lead the introduction of the new documents.

Claire Bevan, the Senior Responsible Owner for the project, said: “I want to express my gratitude to the project team and all nurses and members of the wider multi-professional groups across Health and Care Wales who have informed through their expert reference groups the standardisation of nursing documents.

These have been digitised by the specialist skilled developers to design the Welsh Nursing Care Record by listening to nurses to ensure that the WNCR is fit for practice in the adult care environments.”

Roll out of the new online documents began in April at South Pembrokeshire Community, Neath Port Talbot, Velindre Cancer Centre and Withybush General Hospital. Powys Teaching Health Board and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board are preparing for go-live during early summer, with other organisations planning release later in 2021, aligned to local activities.

Access to national digital records transforms Welsh Ambulance paramedics’ approach to patient care 

Rapid access to patients’ digital health records has been critical in delivering life-saving care, according to paramedics at the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST). 

Mark Craven, Senior Trauma Paramedic, said the information provided by the Welsh Clinical Portal (WCP) has been invaluable since him and his team have started using it. 

“Our Clinical Desk team have access to WCP, and they support the road crews when we’re on a call. We’re in constant communication with the clinical desk, who look up the patient we’re treating and can give us a full background on their medical history and what medication they’re on.” 

Mark explained that knowing this important medical information when a patient may be confused or misremember their health records can clearly impact their treatment and even save their life, “It really tells us the important stuff, knowing that a patient might be on an anti-coagulant for example, means that a small fall could actually be something far more serious and need further treatment.”  

Test results are also viewable to the WAST team, and access to a patient’s recent blood test results could mean that the ambulance crew don’t need to take the patient into hospital to repeat tests. This means they can then decide on a different form of treatment, ideally where the patient doesn’t need to visit a hospital unnecessarily and can be treated at home or elsewhere.  Not only does this also save the patient having to be re-bled, but also saves the valuable time of the paramedics. 

By providing ambulance teams with access to vital information about their patients, the WCP can enable better treatment planning, more efficient care and help WAST staff to feel “more secure in their decisions”. 

New on-demand training centre launched for all NHS Wales staff
A new online training resource is now the one-stop-shop for national training for systems and services that Digital Health & Care Wales develop and support.

The On-Demand Training Centre was initially developed as part of the DHCW COVID-19 response, providing essential and immediate training to users of key systems used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic such as the Welsh Immunisation System (WIS).

The resource has been developed further and now includes training videos and users guides for national systems such as the Welsh Clinical Portal, Welsh PAS, Microsoft 365 and more.

The training is available to all NHS Wales staff, and no log in is required. All staff need to do, is go to Microsoft 365 Training (sharepoint.com).
Digital Health and Care Wales appoints Helen Thomas as CEO
We are pleased to announce that Helen Thomas has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Digital Health and Care Wales.

She heads the new organisation formed to take forward digital transformation and provide the national technology and data services needed by patients and clinicians. 

Helen Thomas has worked in NHS Wales for 30 years and has held several key leadership roles in the field of data and informatics. In her most recent role as interim Director for the NHS Wales Informatics Service and interim CEO for Digital Health and Care Wales, she led the impressive digital response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bob Hudson, interim Chair of Digital Health and Care Wales said: “We are very pleased that Helen Thomas has been appointed as CEO, following a rigorous selection and evaluation process. At such a pivotal time, her experience and commitment will be vital to build on the pace of digital change in health and care powered by the pandemic.

“Digital has been at the heart of the NHS Wales response to COVID-19, delivering new technology that has helped to save lives, and we thank Helen for her leadership and dedication during this period. We now have a tremendous opportunity to move forward and deliver the next generation of digital health and care services for Welsh people.”
Prior to her appointment as interim CEO, Helen Thomas was the Director of Information at the NHS Wales Informatics Service, leading on the development of the new National Data Resource – the NDR. She has also held the role of Assistant Director of Information at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, with responsibility for providing the information needed to evaluate service delivery and to support service improvement and transformation. 

Helen Thomas said: “I am delighted to be appointed as CEO and feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead a new organisation and a refreshed focus on the delivery of digital healthcare services.

“Now more than ever we have the ability to use digital to transform health and care for the people of Wales. This is a time to build on the rapid adoption of digital services that took place during the pandemic and is a massive opportunity for all of us.

“I am really looking forward to being part of an organisation that can make a significant impact and to do so by working alongside healthcare professionals, technology experts and Welsh people.”
DHCW Director Gary Bullock retires after 30 years in digital health
Gary Bullock, DHCW’s Director of Application Development and Support retired at the end of May this year.

During his 30 years working in digital health, Gary helped bring about the development and delivery of the many digital services now used every day by healthcare staff across Wales. He also played a big part in influencing healthcare technology policy and the strategic approach for the NHS in Wales. 
Most recently Gary was instrumental in the digital response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring Wales had the essential data flows to support millions of COVID tests.

Paying tribute to Gary, Helen Thomas DHCW CEO, said: “We cannot thank Gary enough for all he has done and his contribution to digital health in Wales, he will be hugely missed, we wish Gary well in his retirement.”
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