The Gibraltar Health Authority has reached an agreement with EMIS (Egton Medical Information Systems), a leading UK based company, for the provision of a fully integrated electronic patient record for Gibraltar. This follows a tender process that started in November last year.

The initiative will result in some aspects of health care becoming fully computerised by the early part of 2015, with an ongoing programme to cover most areas in eighteen months.

The first areas expected to be completed are primary care and A&E, with mental health following and other systems being rolled out subsequently.

The work will involve technical personnel from EMIS working with the GHA's own Clinical, Administration and IS and IT staff.

The total price of the contract over ten year period is £11,250,000, which includes capital costs, licences maintenance and support. The expected initial cost of the contract for the first eighteen months will be approximately £3.5m.

The system will bring large benefits to the provision of healthcare in Gibraltar, with all patients' records becoming available throughout the organisation whenever needed by clinicians. This will include a full range of services, from maternity to diabetes and critical care.

According to the Minister for Health, Dr John Cortes, it marks a huge milestone in the development of Gibraltar's healthcare and is in keeping with the Government's policy for e-Government.