Comparison
Paper MAR charts vs digital MAR
If your service still runs paper MAR charts, PRN sheets and a count book, this page sets out exactly what changes when you move to an electronic MAR — the safety gains, the audit gains, and the one thing paper genuinely does better.
Side by side
Missed or unsigned doses
Found later, often during a monthly audit — sometimes not at all.
Flagged on screen the moment a dose becomes overdue, with a reason required.
Handwriting and transcription
Hand-copied charts introduce transcription errors and unreadable entries.
Items come from the prescription record, so the chart matches the label.
PRN records
Separate sheet, often missing the reason given or the outcome recorded later.
Reason, dose, time and effectiveness captured in one prompt-led flow.
Stock and counts
Count books reconcile rarely; drift is spotted weeks after it started.
Running balance per medicine, with drift flagged against expected usage.
Controlled drugs
A bound register that cannot be searched and is easy to fall behind on.
Witnessed checks, balances and a searchable, timestamped trail.
CQC inspection evidence
Pull folders, photocopy charts, hope nothing is missing.
Export a date-range evidence pack in a few clicks.
Oversight across homes
Managers must physically visit to see what has been signed.
Live compliance view per client, per home, per round.
When Wi-Fi drops
Paper always works — the genuine advantage.
GetHelix runs offline on the tablet and syncs when signal returns.
Why services leave paper
A single unsigned box can become a safeguarding referral. Digital records make the gap visible while the round is still happening.
What managers gain
Compliance across every client and home without driving between sites or waiting for the monthly audit.
What paper keeps
It never needs charging. That is why GetHelix is built offline-first — the tablet keeps working without signal.
Common questions
Is a digital MAR chart acceptable to CQC?
Yes. CQC does not require paper. What inspectors look for is accurate, contemporaneous, attributable records — which is exactly what an electronic MAR produces, with a full audit trail paper cannot provide.
What happens if the internet goes down mid-round?
GetHelix works offline on tablets. Carers keep signing, and every signature syncs automatically once the connection returns, keeping the original time it was given.
How long does it take to move off paper?
Most services set up a home, add clients and staff, and run their first digital round the same day. Pharmacy prescription imports remove most of the typing.
What does it cost compared with paper?
GetHelix is £129 per month or £1,290 per year for the whole service, with a 30-day free trial. Paper looks cheaper until you count printing, storage, audit time and the cost of a medication error investigation.
Try it on one home first
Run a single service on GetHelix for 30 days alongside your paper charts. If the records are not clearer and faster to evidence, walk away — no card needed to start.