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Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and PCMIS | Bringing Systems Together
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), one of the largest health care providers in England, supports tens of thousands of patients every year. Until recently, its Talking Therapies teams were working on six different PCMIS instances, one for each borough and another delivered by another provider.
“It meant doing the same job six times,” said Robert Cheetham, Performance and Data Quality Lead.
To fix that, GMMH partnered with PCMIS Health Technologies to create one shared platform. The goal? Simplicity, consistency, and a smarter digital foundation for the future.
Making the Move
The transition was phased, merging services step by step. “We worked side by side with PCMIS,” said Gillian Brewer, Performance and Systems Manager. “It felt like a real partnership, not just tech support.”
The team learned valuable lessons early on, especially during Wigan’s complex migration from another IAPT system. Those lessons helped make the next phases smoother and faster.
Overcoming the Challenges
With over 600 active users and 58,000 referrals annually, there were bound to be challenges from data migration to system speed.
Performance checks, server upgrades and regular feedback kept the project moving forward.
Keeping Everyone Connected
Clear, open communication kept staff engaged throughout. Robert said, “With PCMIS, nothing disappeared into a black box. We always knew what was happening, and that built confidence.” He added, “Every time we merged another area, things got smoother.”
Regular meetings and shared issue logs helped both sides stay accountable and informed.
Real Results
The impact was immediate. “Now, if we make a change, it happens once and reaches everyone.” said Christopher Pearson, Business Manager.
Standardised templates and reports have boosted data quality and cut duplication. Clinicians and admin teams are saving time and working more efficiently. “PCMIS fits our clinical model perfectly,” added Christopher. “It’s built for Talking Therapies.”
"PCMIS listened, adapted, and invested in solutions"
Robert Cheetham, Performance and Data Quality Lead.
Better for Patients
Most of the work happened behind the scenes, but patients felt the difference. Services now run more smoothly, and digital tools like patient direct SMS messaging and Choose & Book are available across all boroughs.
Integration and Interoperability
Merging the systems has not only delivered efficiencies (financial and in-service delivery), it has also enabled GMMH to plan more effectively at a system level.
Looking ahead, there is potential to streamline processes further which will support more connected processes specifically between service providers.
Lessons Learned
The GMMH-PCMIS journey proved that big digital change can succeed with teamwork, trust, and clear communication. “This has been a genuinely positive relationship,” said Christopher.
From Complexity to Clarity
By merging six instances into one, GMMH has built a stronger, smarter foundation for Talking Therapies. “It’s been an impressive achievement,” said Robert. “We’ve moved from complexity to clarity, and that makes a real difference for staff, services, and patients.”
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to our partners at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust:
- Christopher Pearson, Business Manager
- Robert Cheetham, Performance and Data Quality Lead
- Gillian Brewer, Performance and Systems Manager
"“PCMIS aren’t just a supplier, they’re a partner helping us deliver better, more efficient, patient-centred care.”"
Christopher Pearson, Business Manager.