The NIPACS+ Programme builds on 14 years of work of the original NIPACS initiative, that has allowed Northern Ireland to digitise and connect its Radiology and Digital Pathology services.
NIPACS+ will be a regional system which will enable every trust across Northern Ireland to access imaging, enhance care, improve patient safety and support timely diagnoses for patients.
Led by the BSO, the Programme will enable the Health and Social Care service in Northern Ireland to transform how diagnostic services are delivered, as it will bring together millions of crucial digital patient images into a single system. To manage the implementation of NIPACS+, the programme is deploying in two Phases.
Phase 1
Regional implementation of radiology, which includes a major technical refresh of the regional data centre, regional network infrastructure and the implementation of local Business Continuity at Trust locations.
Key activities that have been completed as part of this implementation phase include:
- Integration of BCH and RVH Radiology sites – this consisted of a complete replacement of existing services and a transition to the NIPACS+ Solution.
- Major technical refresh of the regional data centres.
- Upgrade of regional network infrastructure.
- Implementation of local Trust Business Continuity infrastructure.
- On-site and home workstation deployment across 5 HSC Trusts.
Key activities outstanding:
- Workstation refresh.
Read about the go-live at RVH on Saturday 20th April 2024 by following the link: NIPACS+ Go Live Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) Belfast – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website (hscni.net)
Phase 2
Implementation of Additional Imaging Specialties (AIS) which will enable Northern Ireland’s healthcare professionals to access and interact with patient images from a wide range of disciplines, including;
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Obstetrics
- Endoscopy
- Medical Photography
- Nuclear Medicine
- Dental
- Ophthalmology
Each Trust will be implemented in tandem with the encompass Programme for AIS.
Successful Go-Lives to Date
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT): November 2023 NIPACS+ Go-Live at SEHSCT – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT): June 2024 NIPACS+goes live in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website
Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT): November 2024 NIPACS+ Go-Live at NHSCT – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website
Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) and Southern Health and Social Trust (SHSCT): May 2025 NIPACS+ Programme has now proudly completed their final Phase 2 go-lives in WHSCT and SHSCT- (BSO) Website
A thank you to the NIPACS+ Programme from the Western Trust Ophthalmology team
Watch this short video where Jim Church, Consultant Ophthalmologist, WHSCT explains how reliant Ophthalmology is on imaging to effectively treat patients and reduce preventable blindness, and how things will change now that Ophthalmology images across the region can be accessed and viewed in the one system.