We've an amazing 4,000 plus colleagues now signed-up to training (that's more than 70%) and our national EPR training expert reckons our "friendly competition" approach is doing the trick.

Derek Wright - pictured in the attachment - says we are by far the best of the 90 Trusts he has been at before us, and he says we'll be setting the benchmark for all other trusts he trains up after us.

Before us, at this stage, other Trusts had only achieved at best, between 40-50% booked in so for us to already be at 70% after just five weeks is cracking.

Derek, with us since last August, said: "As far as training bookings are concerned this is the best Trust I have ever worked at! You're 30% ahead of the anywhere else."

He said the internal campaign and engagement with the added element of "friendly inter-divisional competition" was a winner.

"This is the most EPR engaged trust I have worked at. There's a proper communications team here and everyone is getting the messages. There's been great input from e-rostering, the managers are engaged, and that is why it has turned into a competition which is great for me.

"Everyone is saying they want it to be 100% and that is really good. It is friendly competition and done with a lot of joviality."

He said he would take the CHFT experience with him.

"When I move on I will want other trusts to do it as it has been run here. I know there were issues with stop and start over go-live but once the date was set in stone, the competition started and that is where it took off."

Derek, pictured below, urged anyone not yet booked on to try for some of the earlier training slots which are at locations across the trust and available from next Monday. There are lots of spaces on the earlier courses. To book on click here.

In the meantime congrats to F&SS (main picture) currently the Chelsea of the EPR-emier League. They've moved up two positions and leap-frogged last week's table toppers, Medicine. Here's the current state of play:

And with eight weeks to go to go-live weekend (starting April 28 onwards) there's still time for more twists and turns in the CHFT EPR-emier League.

The EPR team have prepared a short film for colleagues outlining what they can expect from their training. If you've a couple of minutes spare you could watch it here.

Of course, the big test will be the weekend at the end of April when we switch to EPR - so keep up the good work everyone to ensure our patients and their families continue to get the very best care in the new electronic future.

Bring it on and a big well done for supporting it so much we are all EPR-eady!

** The latest EPR monthly newsletter is now available (see attached) - printed copies will be sent to wards and departments soon.