The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has revealed a plan for a new digital platform to improve the sharing of information between NHS and social care staff.
It is part of the wider package of reform for adult social care in England announced today, which also includes provisions to boost the use of technology in supporting older people in their homes.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting made the announcement, saying it reflects a need for the NHS and social providers to work more closely together.
While few details of the digital platform have so far been made available, DHSC said it will support the sharing of medical information – such as when someone last took their medication – between NHS and care staff to raise the standard of care.
It will help to join up digital systems, remove the need to repeat information about people’s care needs multiple times and give care staff quicker access to medical data.
DHSC is also aiming for all care providers to be fully digitised by the end of the current Parliament.
Tech for independent living
There will be a further investment in technology as part of the addition of £86 million to the Disabled Facilities Grant for this and the next financial year, aimed at helping more people to live independently and reduce the number of hospitalisations.
It will come with the setting of new national standards and guidance on technology in care, intended to help providers know which technologies are fit for purpose, secure and able to connect with wider NHS and social care systems in the future.
It is also intended to help technology suppliers know where to invest to grow their businesses and create new products.
DHSC highlighted the potential of sensors to prevent and reduce the impact of falls.
National Care Service
The broader package includes the plan for the creation of a National Care Service (NCS) underpinned by national standards. As a first step, the Government is setting up an independent commission into adult social care, to be chaired by Baroness Casey of Blackstock, to produce recommendations.
Its first phase of work will run to 2026 to identify critical issues in the sector and set out recommendations for reform in the medium term, including recommendations on laying the foundations for the NCS.
The second phase, reporting by 2028, will make longer term recommendations for the transformation of adult social care.
Stabilising the sector
Streeting said: “In the first six months of this Government, work has already begun on stabilising the care sector, investing in prevention, and in carers and care workers. The investment and reforms we’re announcing today will help to modernise social care, get it working more closely with the NHS, and help deliver our Plan for Change.
“But our ageing society, with costs of care set to double in the next 20 years, demands longer term action.
“The independent commission will work to build a national consensus around a new National Care Service able to meet the needs of older and disabled people into the 21st century.
“I have written to opposition parties to invite them to take part in the commission’ work, and asked Baroness Louise Casey to build a cross-party consensus, to ensure the national care service survives governments of different shades, just as our NHS has for the past 76 years.”
