Minister witnesses how digital innovation is transforming health care in Northern Ireland
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April 21, 2026
Northern Ireland Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Matthew Patrick, MP, has visited the Ulster Hospital to see first-hand how digital innovation is transforming Health and Social Care across the South Eastern Trust and the wider Region.
During the visit, the Minister was given an overview of encompass, the regional digital patient record system that is revolutionising how care is delivered across Northern Ireland. In November 2023, South Eastern Trust was the first in the region to launch this system which allows staff to access real-time patient information, supporting faster decision-making, enhancing patient safety and improving the overall experience of care.
As part of the visit, the Minister visited the hospital’s Discharge Control Room, where he saw how encompass is supporting improved coordination of patient discharges. By giving multidisciplinary teams shared, up-to-date information, the system is helping to improve patient flow and reduce delays across the hospital.
The visit also included a live demonstration of the encompass patient portal, My Care. My Care is a secure and user-friendly digital platform that gives patients direct access to their Health and Social Care information, including appointments, some test results and letters. Over 310,000 people are already signed up in Northern Ireland and this platform is empowering patients to take a more active role in managing their own health and wellbeing.
Speaking following the visit, Minister Patrick said, “The visit to the Ulster Hospital was a valuable opportunity for me to see first-hand how digital innovation is transforming the delivery of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.
“The rollout of encompass represents a significant step forward, equipping staff with the information they need in real time to deliver safer, more efficient and more joined-up care and giving patients access to vital information at their finger-tips.
“This is the first of its kind across the United Kingdom and is a fantastic example of Northern Ireland leading the way in digital transformation.”
Reflecting on the visit, Dr. David Wilson, Senior Responsible Owner for encompass and Consultant Physician within South Eastern Trust, said: “It was a privilege to welcome the Minister to the Ulster Hospital and to demonstrate the real impact that encompass is already having for patients and staff. As a clinician, having access to a single, shared patient record in real time is transformational for patient care and reinforces our regional ambition to deliver a modern, digitally enabled health care system for all of Northern Ireland.”
Welcoming the visit, South Eastern Trust Director of Planning, Performance and Informatics, Helen Moore, added, “It has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the progress that has been made through the implementation of encompass across the South Eastern Trust and the wider Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland.
“This technology has been a game changer in how we deliver care. It is supporting greater integration between hospital and community services and enabling us to work more effectively across the entire system for the benefit of our population.
“We also welcomed the opportunity to hear the Minister’s perspective and the important questions raised, which will help shape how we continue to develop and maximise the benefits of the system into the future.”
Chief Clinical Information Officer and Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Andrew Hamilton, commented, “It was important for the Minister to see how encompass is supporting the coordination of care within the hospital. Improving patient flow remains a key priority, particularly in the context of pressures on Emergency Departments and ambulance services.
“Any improvement that helps us treat patients more quickly and support timely discharge has a direct and positive impact on patient care and digital systems such as encompass are playing a key role in enabling this.”
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer, Angela Reed, stated, “It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister and to share the transformation that has taken place since the implementation of encompass. Now over two years live, we are seeing real benefits in practice, with improvements in safety, efficiency and the overall quality of care.
“It was particularly encouraging to demonstrate the My Care app. The level of access it provides to patients is empowering, supporting greater transparency and engagement. We are continuing to build on this as part of our ongoing digital journey.”
The visit underlined the role of encompass in a once-in-a-generation programme, supporting safer, more connected and more person-centred care while positioning Northern Ireland as a leader in digital health and care transformation.
Watch Video: Northern Ireland Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Matthew Patrick, MP visit
Page last updated: 21 April 2026