The 5G Innovation Regions Health ad Care Programme aims to ensure adults with care needs can live more independently.
At the beginning of this week, Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, revealed at the TechUK event that the programme will be scaled regionally and nationally to help more councils and strengthen collaboration with NHS integrated care boards.
The scheme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and technology and delivered in the West Midlands by WM5G, in partnership with the adult social care teams at Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry city councils.
‘The 5GIR programme is transforming the way we deliver adult social care across the region, making the most of technologies – such as sensors, wearable monitors and computer tablets – to create personalised care plans for vulnerable residents,’ Robert Franks, Managing Director of WM5G said. ‘Whether we are helping younger adults to live more active, independent lives or supporting our elderly and frail citizens to remain safely in their own homes for longer, the positive impacts of this digital-first’ approach are significant.
Helping vulnerable residents live more fulfilling lives; reducing preventable hospital admissions and supporting local councils to balance rising demand for services with ever-tighter social care budgets.’
Andrew Wolverson, Director of Adult Social at City of Wolverhampton council, added: ‘It is an exciting time for social care in the region. We are just getting started with technology enabled care solutions and are already seeing positive impacts on culture change and our residents’ well-being. We’re looking forward to what is next.’
At the beginning of this year Peter Skinner, Director of NHS England Transformation Directorate, revealed that the digitising social care programme target for 80% of care providers to have a digital social care record in place by March 2025 is on track.
Photo by Joshua Sortino via UnSplash
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