The Royal Sussex County Hospital’s emergency department, which has now switched to digital observations and e-prescribing, is one of the busiest in Sussex (Credit: UHSussex)
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) has implemented digital observations and e-prescribing in the emergency department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
The rollout, which follows a rollout at Princess Royal Hospital in early 2026, means the trust has transitioned two emergency departments from paper observations and prescriptions to digital systems in less than a year. The move is part of a broader program to modernize urgent and emergency care services.
Craig Marsh, head nurse in the emergency department at Royal Sussex County Hospital, said: “The introduction of digital observations and electronic prescribing represents a significant step forward for the department.
“Real-time recording of observations enables automated early warning scoring and provides staff with greater visibility across the department to support earlier recognition of deterioration and escalation when necessary.
“It also provides clear visibility into when observations are due, overdue, or abnormal, helping teams prioritize patients who are most at risk. In a busy, high-pressure environment like the emergency department, that visibility is incredibly important.”
The Royal Sussex County Hospital is home to one of the busiest emergency departments in Sussex, with almost 95,000 attendances each year.
The move to digital observations and prescriptions gives clinical teams real-time access to patient information, reducing reliance on paper records and enabling earlier identification and referral of deteriorating patients.
In the first 10 days of launching the project, clinical teams completed 3,800 sets of observations and administered 16,400 medications digitally.
Nina Liddle, matron in the emergency department at Royal Sussex County Hospital, added: “For staff, these systems fundamentally change the way care is prioritized and managed.
“Improved visibility into patient observations and medication status supports a more coordinated and proactive approach to care, rather than reactive task management.
“So far, feedback from staff has been positive and we are incredibly proud of how the team has adapted to the changes. Ultimately, these systems are not just digital substitutes for paper, but enable safer, more responsive and more patient-centred care.
“The implementation forms part of University Hospitals Sussex’s wider digital transformation program and supports the trust’s strategic priorities of moving from analogue to digital and improving urgent and emergency care.
“It also helps to lay the digital foundations needed for the introduction of the trust’s electronic patient record in spring 2027, which will bring together patient information into a single digital record and support more integrated care across the organisation.
“As the trust’s digital transformation continues, digital tools will increasingly support clinical decision-making, helping staff to identify patients who may be deteriorating, spend less time on administration and more time caring for patients.”
Further emergency department rollouts are planned at Sussex University Hospitals throughout 2026.
