Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a £30 million, 10-year contract to Altera Digital Health to implement its first electronic patient record (EPR) system, marking a major milestone in its digital transformation journey. The agreement, confirmed in March 2026, positions the trust among the final cohort of NHS organisations to move away from largely paper-based or fragmented legacy systems. The new EPR will replace multiple siloed IT systems, including older patient administration and clinical record platforms, consolidating them into a single, integrated digital environment. This transition reflects the NHS’s near-universal push towards digitisation, with most trusts already having implemented EPR systems in recent years.
Moving from fragmented systems to integrated care
The introduction of a unified EPR is expected to significantly improve how patient information is accessed and shared across services. Currently, organisations without a comprehensive EPR often rely on a patchwork of systems that can hinder communication between departments and delay clinical decision-making. By contrast, the Altera platform will provide clinicians with a single, real-time view of patient data, supporting safer and more coordinated care.
The system is also designed to enhance patient flow, streamline workflows and reduce duplication of administrative tasks. These improvements are particularly important as NHS organisations face growing demand and pressure to increase efficiency. In Stockport’s case, the implementation is expected to support closer integration with regional partners, aligning with Greater Manchester’s broader ambition to deliver more connected, digitally enabled care across its health system.
Technology platform and future innovation potential
From a health technology perspective, the deal represents more than a system replacement, it establishes a digital foundation for future innovation. Modern EPR platforms such as those provided by Altera are increasingly designed as modular, interoperable systems, capable of integrating with analytics tools, AI applications and population health platforms. The new system is expected to support embedded clinical decision support tools, enabling clinicians to make faster, evidence-based decisions at the point of care. It will also allow for improved data sharing across care settings, reducing the need for repeated tests and improving continuity of care.
In the longer term, the platform could enable the adoption of advanced technologies such as predictive analytics and AI-driven workflow automation, helping to improve both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency. The contract also reflects a wider shift in the NHS from simply procuring digital systems to building scalable platforms that can evolve over time, supporting ongoing innovation rather than one-off transformation projects.
Part of a wider regional and national trend
Stockport’s decision to adopt an EPR comes as part of a broader trend across the NHS, where digital maturity has become a central priority. By early 2026, the vast majority of NHS trusts in England had implemented EPR systems, with only a small number, like Stockport, was still in the process of doing so.
At the same time, neighbouring organisations such as Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have also selected Altera for similar implementations, suggesting a move towards greater standardisation across the region.
This regional alignment could help improve interoperability and enable shared care records, supporting more seamless patient journeys across organisational boundaries. Nationally, NHS England has emphasised the importance of digital infrastructure in improving productivity and reducing waiting times, with EPR systems seen as a cornerstone of this strategy.
Challenges of implementation and change management
Despite the potential benefits, implementing a new EPR system remains a complex and resource-intensive process. The rollout will require significant organisational change, including staff training, workflow redesign and careful management of data migration. Large-scale EPR programmes often take several years to fully embed, with risks around disruption to clinical services during the transition period.
Ensuring clinician engagement will be critical to the success of the programme. Evidence from previous implementations suggests that systems are most effective when they are designed with input from frontline staff and aligned with clinical workflows. There are also financial considerations. While the £30 million contract represents a substantial investment, trusts are expected to realise long-term savings through improved efficiency, reduced duplication and better resource utilisation.
A defining step towards digital maturity
For Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, the contract represents a defining step in its journey towards digital maturity. Moving from fragmented systems to a unified EPR will not only modernise its infrastructure but also position the organisation to take advantage of emerging technologies and new models of care. For the wider NHS, the deal highlights the final stages of a decade-long shift towards digital-first healthcare, where data, interoperability and technology-enabled care are central to service delivery.
As the focus increasingly shifts from implementation to optimisation, trusts like Stockport will play a key role in demonstrating how EPR systems can deliver tangible improvements in patient care, staff experience and system performance. Ultimately, the success of the programme will depend on how effectively the technology is embedded into everyday practice, turning digital capability into real-world clinical impact.
