Coventry trust launches linked digital medicines system

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has launched an interoperable digital medicines management system that links medicines dispensing technology with the trust's electronic patient record.

The system combines Omnicell automated dispensing cabinets and a robotic dispensing system with Oracle Health's electronic patient record, giving clinicians access to medicines stock information within the patient record instead of across separate platforms.

Backed by NHS England as a first-of-type project, the rollout is described as the first implementation of this specific integration in England. Similar functionality has already been used in the United States.

Until now, clinicians at the trust had to move between different systems to prescribe, locate and dispense medicines. The new setup gives staff a live view of what is held on wards, what is available elsewhere in the hospital and what must be ordered from central pharmacy.

Workflow change

For nursing teams, the system is intended to reduce the need to switch between the electronic patient record, treatment rooms and dispensing cabinets during medication rounds. That should cut time spent away from bedsides and reduce unnecessary movement around wards.

Pharmacy teams are also expected to see changes in daily work. Only active and clinically verified orders can be selected through the system, a step designed to lower the risk of dispensing mistakes.

The platform also supports closed-loop medicines administration and barcode scanning. These features can help reduce delayed doses, omitted medicines and other errors, while improving audit trails around medicines handling.

Another change is in stock management. Real-time inventory data across the hospital is expected to help pharmacy teams monitor supply more closely and reduce medicine waste.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire is one of the largest acute teaching trusts in the UK, with more than 11,000 staff. It runs University Hospital in Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby, and delivers services across the West Midlands.

Clinical input

Frontline nursing, pharmacy and digital clinical teams were involved in designing the system and its workflows. The co-design process aimed to ensure the technology fitted existing clinical practice rather than adding another layer of administration.

Professor Tracey Brigstock, Chief Nursing Officer, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: "For our nursing teams, this new system means they can begin a medication round knowing exactly where medicines are, how to obtain them, and that the process is both efficient and safe. For patients, it reduces delays and builds safety into every step of the medicines pathway."

Hardeep Bagga, Director of Pharmacy, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: "We had great systems in place, but they weren't talking to each other. This was the missing piece we needed to solve to truly achieve end-to-end digital medicines management."

The trust's digital nursing leadership framed the work as a practical effort to remove friction from ward processes. A central issue was how often staff had to leave one system and log into another while trying to complete routine medicines tasks.

Candice McGrane, Digital Lead for Nursing, Midwifery and AHPs and Deputy CNIO, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: "Co-design with frontline teams was essential. Our focus was ensuring this integration reduced system hopping, supported safer decision-making, and genuinely gave time back to nurses, rather than adding complexity. This has been about getting the workflow right for staff and patients."

Wider interest

The project is likely to draw attention from other NHS organisations looking to connect prescribing, stock visibility and medicines administration more closely. Many trusts have introduced digital records and automated dispensing tools, but interoperability between those systems remains uneven.

For technology suppliers, the launch offers a reference point for similar projects in England. Omnicell said the integrated model creates a single live view of medicines availability inside clinical workflows.

Ed Platt, Senior Commercial Director UK & Ireland, Omnicell, said: "This implementation demonstrates the real value of interoperability when it is clinically led. By integrating Omnicell automation with the Oracle Health EPR, UHCW now has a single, real-time view of medicines availability embedded directly into clinical workflows. As an NHS England-sponsored first-of-type programme, it provides a scalable and repeatable blueprint for other trusts seeking to unlock the full value of their digital infrastructure."