Enhancing T2/T3 Prescribing with Digitisation and Decision Support in ePMA (2025)

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust & Better

Project summary

The project has created legally compliant digital templates within Better Meds ePMA, enabling full digitisation and management of T2 forms, while allowing T3 forms to be accurately transcribed into the system. This ensures that all relevant staff have immediate access to legal forms and can monitor medication compliance seamlessly. At the same time, clinicians retain the flexibility to make necessary clinical amendments, supported by prompts for Section 62 generation when required. For cases where hard copies are needed, these can be easily printed directly from the system.

Through collaborative work between our ePMA supplier (Better), the digital medicines team, and the MHA office for Oxford Health Foundation Trust (OHFT), we have developed T2/T3 functionality which meets all the legal and clinical criteria. Whilst ensuring digitisation of all aspects of the T2/T3 process (bar the initial creation of a T3 which is still produced by CQC following their standards).

Compliance issues with T2/T3 paperwork are not unique to OHFT and are widely recognised across mental health Trusts in the UK. The implementation of a digitised T2/T3 solution, with decision support and clear flagging, holds significant potential for broader application. Oxford Health and our suppliers, Better, have been mindful of this, working to ensure the solution is transferable to other similar Trusts, thereby promoting digital workflows and their ability to enhance mental health prescribing practices. Once this functionality is fully rolled out across the Trust, we anticipate that paper-based T2/T3 forms will no longer be needed, except for short-term business continuity processes where required.

The current project focuses on T2/T3, however, CTO11 and CTO12 will also be available when the Trust moves ePMA into the community mental health teams. We are also currently working with the supplier to produce digital section 62 forms within ePMA to enhance MHA functionality.