DHU’s GP out of hours service in Northants have introduced new devices giving them greater and safer access to patient records, to deliver more effective and person-centred care.
The clinical teams have been issued with ToughBooks, bespoke and protected laptops that, unlike previous devices the team carried, have a direct link to DHU’s secure, live SystmOne network.
Digital access
Stuart Higgins is DHU’s Deputy Operations Manager in Northants, he said: “We've been trying to introduce these laptops for some time, but we've consistently encountered issues getting them to work with the NHS Trust's network infrastructure. As a result, we've had to manually retrieve patient notes before each visit, carry them with us, and return to base to update records before seeing the next patient.
“Using a mobile SIM card and taking advantage of the wider network that these laptops can access, we now have digital access to records on the go. It means safer, more secure access during home visits, we can update patient notes and records there and then, and go directly on to our next patient, reducing delays.”
Network connectivity issues with the previous units had been a major stumbling block, but with persistance and innovation, the mobile SIM solution now appears to provide reliable support for the system.
ToughBooks are designed to be durable and specifically designed and customised to meet the needs of our out of hours service. Our Northants management team have worked closely with our IT colleagues to ensure the devices do exactly what’s needed to meet the needs of our patients and clinicians working within the service.
Stuart added: “It’s safer from a data protection perspective, records can be updated in real time and travel time is reduced, leading to the potential for more clinical time. We’ve managed to introduce them to our three hospital bases in Kettering, Northampton and Daventry and after one month of use, the feedback has been excellent.”
The new units were introduced on 1st July following a month of testing.
Publish date: 4 August 2025