Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust rolls out CLEO EPS electronic prescribing system
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust rolls out CLEO EPS electronic prescribing system with great results for patients and clinicians
Background
The team at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have rolled out CLEO EPS – an electronic prescribing system which enables quick, seamless prescribing, enabling patients’ prescriptions to be entered and sent electronically to a nominated community pharmacy of a patient’s choice.
The CLEO Project represents a transformative step in Alder Hey’s journey towards a fully digital medicines management ecosystem in the Community and is currently rolled out across Community services, Community Paediatrics and ADHD. Designed to replace outdated paper-based prescriptions, CLEO delivers an efficient, patient-centred solution that aligns with national priorities for digital innovation and sustainability.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is one of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals, who treat everything from common illnesses to highly complex and specialist conditions.
Problem
Historically, Alder Hey relied on FP10 paper prescriptions for outpatient medicines. These were printed, signed, and physically couriered to external pharmacies, which was a process fraught with inefficiencies and risks. Prescriptions could be delayed, misplaced, or subject to transcription errors, leading to longer wait times for families and increased administrative burden for staff.
The project team wanted to digitise FP10 prescription workflows for outpatient medicines, enabling secure, real-time transmission of prescriptions to community pharmacies. This needed to integrate with existing Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems for seamless operation and provide audit trails and clinical decision support to enhance safety. The team wanted to increase patient safety by reducing the risk of lost or incorrect prescriptions. They wanted to increase efficiency by eliminating courier delays and manual handling and improve timeliness and transparency for patients and clinicians.
They also wanted to support the NHS Net Zero agenda by reducing paper and transport emissions.
Solution
The CLEO Project was conceived as part of Alder Hey’s Digital, Data and AI strategy, which prioritises digital-first solutions to enhance care quality and operational resilience. The team worked with CLEO Systems to implement its CLEO EPS solution. Before introducing technology, the team undertook a comprehensive review of workflows, stakeholder needs, and regulatory requirements. This ensured that CLEO EPS was not a “tech for tech’s sake” initiative but a carefully planned intervention aligned with organisational goals.
Measures of success were agreed as a reduction in prescription turnaround times, a decrease in transcription and dispensing errors and positive feedback from patients and staff. There were also predicted financial savings from courier elimination and reduced paper usage. Digital exclusion was a key risk identified early. Mitigation strategies included universal access via NHS Smartcard authentication for all clinicians, comprehensive training and support across departments and maintaining patient choice for pharmacy selection, ensuring no disruption to care pathways.
Benefits and results
CLEO EPS went live on 30th September 2025 for Community services, Community Paediatrics and ADHD, and currently has approximately 90 users onboarded. As of February 2026, 7085 scripts have been issued.
Regarding the impact, early data indicates significant reductions in prescription turnaround, with prescriptions transmitted instantly rather than having courier delays. There has also been improved accuracy following the introduction of these digital workflows which is eliminating manual transcription and reducing error risk. Clinicians have reported streamlined processes and families experience faster access to medicines. Financially, courier costs have been eliminated, delivering immediate savings. Longer-term, reduced paper usage supports sustainability and cost-efficiency. There are also efficiencies anticipated through automation and reduced administrative overhead.
CLEO EPS embeds clinical safety standards, providing secure authentication, audit trails, and decision support. By removing manual handling, the system reduces opportunities for error and enhances governance. Families benefit from faster access to medicines, reducing stress and improving overall experience. The system supports continuity of care by integrating with existing clinical workflows. Clinicians report reduced administrative burden and improved confidence in prescription accuracy. Pharmacy teams appreciate real-time visibility and streamlined communication. Beyond operational gains, CLEO EPS contributes to Alder Hey’s sustainability agenda, reducing carbon emissions associated with courier services and paper waste.
Futures
Insights from CLEO EPS have been disseminated via the Transformation Programme Board and Digital Collaborative Group. Presentations at regional forums have sparked interest from other Trusts seeking similar efficiencies. CLEO EPS is designed for replication across other NHS settings and its architecture supports integration with national Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) frameworks, offering potential for widespread adoption. CLEO also integrates GP Connect to give clinicians secure, real-time access to a patient’s GP record directly within the CLEO interface. This integration is essential for safe prescribing decisions, enabling clinicians to review allergies, and current medications before issuing prescriptions. It also enhances clinical care by providing accurate GP data that reduces risk and supports informed decision-making. Furthermore, it ensures compliance with NHS England’s Open API policy and national data-sharing standards.
There are plans in place to spread the solution more widely across Community Services and wider Alder Hey given the success of the initial roll out.
