Care England has called on the government to ensure all care settings have access to wifi and digital hardware to enable providers to run a service integrated with the NHS and other health and housing partners.
In evidence submitted to the health and social care select committee’s ‘Social care: funding and workforce’ inquiry, the representative body said digital integration should be at the core of reforms.
Digital technology can be used to facilitate better discharge processes and integrate health and social care patient records, thus allowing more patients to receive care in the community, it added.
The representative body said digitalisation also frees up time for staff to perform care work and results in cost savings for providers.
Care England cited Quinton House nursing home in Warwickshire, which by switching to digital care planning software Sekoia had reduced end-of-shift documentation by 1.5 hours per carer, per shift.
In addition, the trade body said, digitalisation can create value via financial efficiencies in the NHS.
“If a care home reduces falls by integrating acoustic monitoring in its homes, the value created is captured in the health service, which saves up to £20,000 for every hip replacement avoided or at least £5,000 for a fall-related hospital stay,” said Care England.
“There needs to be a way for this value created to be captured by the social care provider, by realising its contribution to the health and care system,” it added.
