The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is to get £21.5m to modernise digital technology, IT infrastructure and clinical systems, it has been confirmed, which means your health files can be more easily shared with its partner health organisations.

£12.5m comes from the Investing in Our Future programme (IOF), which was set up to improve NHS buildings and IT, while a further £9m, to improve the Island trust's clinical systems, has also been awarded.

The money will be used to introduce faster and more reliable WiFi.

A new electronic document management system will mean digital patient records can more easily be shared with the mainland trust the Isle of Wight's will soon be working closely with.

The organisation also plans to introduce the same system that is already in place across Mountbatten's hospice services and in GPs surgeries - to make the sharing of files smoother.

In addition, a new app for patients will be introduced.

Earlier this month, Isle of Wight NHS Trust chief executive, Darren Cattell, said better tech was a key part to plans to work more closely with the Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust and the South Central Ambulance Service.

As previously reported by the Isle of Wight County Press, the intention is to merge the executive and clinical leadership of acute services, across the Island, Portsmouth and south east Hampshire, covering around 800,000 people.

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Health bosses insist the organisations will continue to be responsible for their own patients and say the move will help protect Island services.

Questions have been asked about what that means for the location and delivery of healthcare for Islanders, while health bosses says it will not mean more travel to the mainland.

Mr Cattell told the County Press new technology, with the right training and skills, could help cut the need to cross the Solent.

Dr Nikki Turner, director of strategy, partnership and digital, said: "This major investment is a game changer for the Island’s NHS and a major boost to our digital transformation journey.

"Investing in our IT infrastructure and clinical systems will ensure we can provide a safe and sustainable digital service that will improve patient experience and revolutionise the way our staff work."

Rebecca Lester, chief digital information officer, said: "This is truly a once-in-a-generation opportunity."

Rish Jain, foundation year two doctor and junior clinical information officer said: "A unified patient record system across an entire healthcare network, with patient level functionality, is the holy grail, and we're sitting on it!

"We have a precious opportunity on the Island to truly change how we deliver healthcare and to and be a leader in it."