The partnership between QVH and Altera Digital Health was named the winner of the Major Project Go Live category at the Health Tech Awards 2026. The Archie EPR system went live across QVH in November 2025, representing the Trust's largest digital transformation programme to date and replacing numerous paper-based processes with a unified electronic patient record.
The introduction of the new system was achieved without any reduction in hospital activity or cancellations of outpatient clinics or theatre procedures. A significant focus was placed on preparing and supporting staff for the transition. By the go-live date, 97% of staff had completed their training, supported by 120 Digital Champions from across QVH who provided peer-to-peer assistance, alongside a central Command Centre and 24/7 support during the initial weeks.
“"We are incredibly proud to receive this award. Introducing new ways of digital working into the NHS requires a huge amount of attention to detail and co-ordinated teamwork and it is not easy to deliver this well."
Tamara Everington, Managing Director and Senior Responsible Officer for the Archie EPR programme at QVH, stated: “We knew that we had to deliver Archie EPR with all the benefits that brought, whilst also sustaining the safe and effective care our patients have come to expect. The dedication and commitment shown by our staff and colleagues across the NHS in helping us deliver successfully illustrates the NHS at its absolute best. People across the Trust put a huge amount into preparing for go-live, learning a new system and supporting one another through those first few weeks. Our Digital Champions in particular were brilliant in helping to support people who found the change difficult. They worked alongside our EPR team, clinical leaders and colleagues from Altera to help achieve our shared success. There is still lots more we want to do with Archie, but this is a lovely opportunity to stop, recognise what we achieved together and say thank you to everyone who played a part.”
In the first six months following the go-live, nearly 100,000 clinical documents were created digitally, over 87,000 medicines were administered electronically, and more than 834,000 sheets of paper were avoided.
“"Congratulations to everyone at Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on this fantastic and well-deserved achievement. Winning the Major Project Go-Live award is recognition of the dedication, collaboration and careful planning that underpinned the Trust’s successful EPR implementation."
Mark Hutchinson, Executive Vice President, Altera Digital Health (UK & EMEA), added: “Achieving a go-live with no disruption to patient care, no loss of productivity and such high levels of staff adoption is a remarkable accomplishment. We are proud to be partnering with QVH on its digital transformation journey.”
The Archie system was named by QVH staff in honour of pioneering plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe, whose work at the hospital during the Second World War transformed the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew. This name reflects QVH’s proud history of innovation, as the Trust continues to develop Archie and its wider digital programme.
