The mobile EPR has been chosen to support a wide range of community-based health services delivered in patients' homes and community settings, across multiple islands. The system will be used by clinicians as they interact with patients, both online and offline, to deliver healthcare. Patient records and notes are synchronised when a connection becomes available.

System-level integrations between Morse and the board's GP system mean information will be shared, avoiding duplication of data entry and streamlining information flow between services and professionals.

Initially being implemented within the community nursing teams, it is hoped the system will be in place within the next 6-12 months, and will be rolled out across other specialist community services and allied healthcare professionals in the future.

Kim Anderson, chief nurse for community and mental health at NHS Shetland, said: ‘Using Morse will change how we access, record and share clinical information in our community. Having everything documented in Morse will give us complete visibility of our patient care. It will give us much better oversight and assurance in relation to the quality of and continuity our services.

‘It will really help our nurses in the community save time and work more efficiently – we estimate time savings of 30 minutes per shift per nurse. Having all the information of previous tests and treatments when they visit a patient, particularly those with complex needs, helps decision-making at the time for improved care.'

Bibianna Wojtczak, senior project manager and team leader at NHS Shetland, added: ‘The adoption of Morse supports NHS Shetland's digital ambitions to move from paper-based processes and disconnected systems towards a more integrated, electronic approach to care delivery.'

Garry Sherriff, managing director at Cambric, said: ‘Morse has been developed in close partnership with NHS clinicians over many years and is already in use across multiple NHS boards, particularly in rural, island and remote settings. It has been designed specifically for community and mental health care and is ideal for NHS Shetland to support its community nurses who are mobile across large and often disconnected geographies, and working as part of multidisciplinary teams.'