Everyone receiving health and social care in Northern Ireland now has a digital care record, as all of the region’s health trusts have adopted the encompass system.
The new electronic patient record platform has been gradually introduced over the past 18 months, with the Western and Southern Trusts going live on Thursday.
Designed to improve experiences for patients, service users, and staff, the system consolidates data from multiple existing platforms that previously lacked integration.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the full implementation of encompass “places Northern Ireland at the leading edge of healthcare delivery.”
Patients and service users in Northern Ireland will now be able to access their health information online through a patient portal called My Care. Available via both app and website, this portal empowers patients and service users to take a more active role in their healthcare.
Nesbitt emphasized that the rollout of Encompass has been a collective effort across the entire Health and Social Care system since it was first introduced in 2020. He described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” that has enabled Northern Ireland to modernize its systems and significantly enhance the delivery of care>
“Removes the need for bulky paper records”
Tom Simpson, Deputy Chief Digital Information Officer at the Department of Health and Director of Digital Health and Care Northern Ireland, described the day as “a significant milestone in the transformation of our Health and Care sector.”
He explained, “This is not merely a new IT system; it’s about transforming the way the sector operates, ensuring our staff have the tools they need to provide the best possible service for everyone in Northern Ireland.”
Encompass streamlines the delivery of care by offering care workers quick access to the right information at the right moment.
“It eliminates bulky paper records, reduces the need for duplicate tests, and supports hospital-based pharmacists in managing medications more safely.”
Simpson also highlighted that the system provides higher-quality data, which will help improve services moving forward and lead to better outcomes.
