Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Before partnering with Ideagen Healthcare Guardian, GMMH relied on Datix, which served the Trust for over a decade but had failed to evolve alongside their growing operational needs. The system created significant inefficiencies.

Patient and staff data entry created substantial inefficiencies, with no accurate way to cross-reference or track incidents by individual. Reporting was particularly cumbersome, requiring time-consuming manual aggregation with limited insights into key issues such as patient restraints or trends in incidents. Turner noted, “It sounds simple to suddenly have a report to see how many incidents that one nurse has been involved in, but we would spend hours doing that.”

Adding to the urgency was NHS England’s requirement for compliance with the Learn from Patient Safety Events (LFPSE) framework. Already behind schedule on LFPSE readiness, GMMH faced mounting pressure to modernize its governance systems.

After a rigorous evaluation process, GMMH selected Ideagen InPhase as its governance platform, finding it aligned perfectly with their needs for configurability, innovation, and integration. Gareth highlighted three foundational features that stood out during the tender process: “There was this concept around forms, portals, and reports. Those three building blocks really sold it to us.”

The platform’s flexibility allows GMMH to self-configure their system for capturing, analyzing, and presenting data. Integration capabilities with the Trust’s Patient Administration System and HR systems were vital in ensuring seamless, real-time updates. This integration eliminated the inefficiencies of manual data entry, as well as opened doors for more dynamic reporting capabilities. Turner referred to the integrated “people picker” functionality, noting, “For the first time, we could have a precise view of incidents involving specific patients or staff.”

Additionally, readiness for LFPSE compliance was an indispensable feature of the system. The transition was made smoother through extensive support from Ideagen’s team, enabling the Trust to address gaps in their governance quickly and efficiently.

Training and engagement with staff were prioritized throughout the rollout. Bespoke training resources, including videos and mandatory courses, were created to align all users with best practices for incident reporting and system use. GMMH also engaged with governance leads and nursing teams to co-design forms tailored to patient safety needs.

The Trust expects significant transformations through their partnership with Ideagen InPhase, spanning improvements in patient safety, operational efficiency, data management, and compliance.

Real-time data access

Real-time access to incident data is anticipated to empower clinicians to make informed decisions, particularly in tracking and managing patient incidents such as restraints. Gareth shared, “For the first time, clinicians can see if the same patient has been involved in numerous incidents that day, allowing them to make informed discharge decisions.”

Streamlined workflows

Simplified user roles and permissions have streamlined administrative workflows, significantly reducing overhead and improving access control. Automation in reporting promises to save substantial time, enabling staff to focus on more critical responsibilities.

Triangulated dashboards

The platform’s triangulation capabilities are set to provide a centralized view of incidents, risks, and feedback, offering actionable insights into Trust-wide performance. Tailored dashboards will empower divisions to benchmark against peers and foster targeted improvement strategies.

Improved compliance

With its LFPSE-ready functionality and robust audit capabilities, Ideagen InPhase aligns GMMH with NHS England’s national requirements. Internal auditors have already acknowledged significant improvements in compliance.

Enhanced flexibility

GMMH plans to leverage the system’s flexibility for new projects while exploring future possibilities with AI to enhance decision-making.

The phased rollout has already yielded promising outcomes. Simplified permission management has addressed security challenges, and newly integrated data tracking allows staff to generate actionable reports instantly. Real-time dashboards have improved incident tracking and allowed leadership to monitor performance across departments.

Staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with one manager noting they had previously found data reporting intimidating but could now independently generate reports. Turner shared, “She was a self-proclaimed technophobe, but now she clicks a button, and all the information she needs is there.”

An internal audit highlighted the system’s strengths in improving accessibility and security, providing robust controls that were absent in the previous platform.

Looking ahead, GMMH is exploring several opportunities to expand the capabilities of Ideagen InPhase. The Trust is also mapping its planned shift from regional to themed divisions (e.g., inpatient and outpatient), with Ideagen InPhase expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating this restructuring.

Exciting opportunities with AI, including summarizing incident forms for busy clinicians, are on the radar as GMMH continues to innovate with the platform’s tools. Through its partnership with Ideagen InPhase, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is addressing long-standing operational challenges while forging a path toward innovation. By enhancing patient safety, operational efficiency, and strategic insight, the Trust is unlocking its potential in delivering exceptional mental health care. With the system’s scalability and adaptability, GMMH is well-positioned to meet future challenges while driving continuous improvement across its services.

If your organization seeks to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency, Ideagen InPhase offers a proven and adaptable solution. Contact us today to explore how we can support your transformation and help you achieve excellence in governance and care delivery.