Social care funding for digital care records

Access funding 
 

The NHS Transformation Directorate (previously NHSX) is currently providing funding to support the digital transformation of social care. The funding is to trial digital social care technology with integrated digital care systems, including:

  • Infrastructure to improve access to high-speed connectivity and devices for care providers
  • Fall prevention technologies that can reduce the frequency and severity of hospital admissions
  • Digital care records to ensure data is captured at the point of care and can be shared between care settings
PCS Device Use

So far, 13 ICSs (integrated care systems) have received social care funding, with 30% of social care providers partially digitised (using digital care records) and 30% still using paper-based systems.

The NHS Transformation Directorate wants to increase the use of digital care systems in social care. Digital care systems promote change, and when used by care providers, they can help people live healthy, happy, fulfilled lives.

For example, using digital care systems:

  • Reduces falls in care homes by 20% or more; these falls cost the NHS over £2 billion annually
  • Improve patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs while helping people monitor and manage chronic conditions
connected-care 54
Social Care Funding: why care providers should choose a supplier that offers an interoperable Digital Social Care Record System
Learn more about why interoperability is key to transforming the social care sector and why care providers should choose a supplier that provides an interoperable Digital Social Care Record System.

The benefits of digital social care records

Securing social care funding for digital social care records and a comprehensive digital care planning system promises a number of benefits to adult social care providers and other healthcare workers, including:

Access to reliable, up-to-date information

With a digital social care record, care providers in the adult social care sector will be able to access accurate information instantly, allowing them to remain up to date on patients and provide the most suitable, targeted care, including access to information such as falls prevention technologies to keep individuals safe.

Share data with other providers

Care management software and digital technology help workers in adult social care settings. They also share accurate data with local authorities, domiciliary care providers, doctors, assured suppliers and other professionals. This allows timely access to important information about service users and enables more person-centred care.

Added Security

While concerns have been raised over data security, digital solutions actually allow for greater protection compared to paper records. With the right data security protection toolkit, adult social care digital records can be backed up and stored securely, ensuring that they can be accessed by CQC-registered providers at any time.

Funding Is the Future

The Care Digital Transformation Fund looks set to transform the future of social care digital transformation, allowing CQC registered care providers to access innovative care technologies and management systems, and transform the efficiency and quality of social care across the region.

The care sector's most widely used digital care
management system