CareFlow Launches at Wolverhampton. Now Comes the Push for a Secure, Fully Resilient EPR

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust transitioned its new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) implementation from the initial launch to the challenging process of embedding the system, as evidenced by a recently published timetable that underscores the importance of follow-through after the initial "cutover." Phase one, which utilised System C's CareFlow platform, went live in September 2025. This phase replaced the patient administration system for acute and community services and introduced new modules for the Emergency Department (ED) and theatre management. The trust described the successful roll-out, supported by significant staff engagement and community roadshows, as a £10 million milestone in its "Blueprint transformation."

The post-go-live bulletin transparently outlines the digital programme's subsequent phases. Key milestones include a post-implementation review in March 2026, the introduction of CAS cards in the emergency department beginning in April, and the ambitious target of a full clinical Electronic Patient Record (EPR) for all inpatients by December 2026. Roles like an EPR benefits-realisation manager underscore a critical point: digital transformation's success relies on new skills, robust governance, and continuous investment, not just on the initial procurement achievement.

The operational roadmap aligns directly with the ongoing national discussion around cyber resilience. HTN Now's December panel specifically addressed key strategic challenges. These included the need for robust preparedness, rapid recovery capabilities, integrating resilience into clinical and governance structures, and ensuring that all care settings share responsibility for cyber security. The panellists advocated for tangible solutions like zero-trust architectures, AI-driven threat detection, regular tabletop exercises, and enhanced staff training. However, they also cautioned that while Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) are vital, they expand the attack surface if organisations do not prioritise cyber security considerations from the outset.

A modern, trust-wide Electronic Patient Record (EPR) serves as a critical clinical backbone, replacing numerous local systems. This necessary integration enables smoother patient care, but it simultaneously concentrates risk; weaknesses in authentication, access controls, or patching regimes can expose the entire system. Royal Wolverhampton’s measured approach, emphasising staged delivery, benefits realisation, and careful clinical roll-out, reflects this reality, and this phased timetable aligns with expert recommendations that major digital initiatives must prioritise building system resilience alongside new functionality.

While system vendors and trusts increasingly discuss "secure by design" approaches, and national guidance and legislation establish stricter requirements for essential services, the HTN panel's consensus offers a crucial reminder: cyber resilience is an ongoing journey, not a final checkpoint at system go-live. Therefore, the success of Royal Wolverhampton's phase two hinges not only on clinician adoption of CareFlow but, more critically, on the trust's ability to consistently demonstrate that the system remains available, safe, and secure, especially when pressure tests it.