A KNUTSFORD woman was one of the first patients to benefit from Macclesfield Hospital’s new state-of-the-art VitalPAC system.

The new system allows staff to record clinical data electronically on handheld devices at a patient’s bedside. It is used from the patient’s admission to hospital and throughout their stay, replacing the paper observations chart at the end of each bed.

It will increase both efficiency and patient safety by freeing up nurse time and monitoring patients in real time, warning immediately of any deterioration in their conditions.

Milly Evans, from Knutsford, was recently admitted to the hospital and was one of the first patients to experience the new system.

“The new system seemed to work very well, before the nurse had to spend a lot of time filling out paperwork where as now with the new system it was a lot quicker,” she said.

“They got to spend more time with the patients which is a lot more comforting when you’re in a lot of pain. The nurses were so lovely and it was nice to actually get to know them, it doesn’t make your stay there so scary.”

VitalPAC automatically calculates a patient’s risk score based upon the observations and alerts staff immediately of any deterioration, also advising on an appropriate response. The system prompts nursing staff when observations are due, ensuring observations are completed accurately and on time.

East Cheshire NHS Trust’s medical director, Dr Rob Stead, said: "We are delighted to be one of the first trusts in the region to introduce this technology and firmly believe it will increase patient safety and improve efficiency at the same time.

“It will significantly reduce the time we previously had to spend identifying high-risk and deteriorating patients and means clinical staff will be able to take immediate action.”