New social care standards have been published by NHS Digital and the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) to support how information is recorded and shared across health and social care.
Over 1,000 health and care professionals have supported the development of the standards through an open consultation process.
The five new standards will help to ensure important personal details, such as the need for additional social care support after a person’s hospital stay, will be recorded and shared.
The new standards cover:
- ‘about me’ – the personal details that a person would like to be recorded about themselves
- health and care information shared in care homes
- information shared by local authorities
- referrals for community assessments for care and support after a hospital stay
- the urgent information needed when a person is transferred to hospital from a care home
Other non-medical information can also be included, such as a photo and details about work, family or friends, or the ways a person usually behaves when they are in good physical and mental health.
Professor Adam Gordon, vice president at the British Geriatrics Society and clinical lead on the project, said: “This standardised information will help everyone involved in care to access the information they need to help people to live the best possible lives they can.”
“From crucial information about medication and its effects, right through to daily goals and aspirations, it will help to ensure that everyone can be treated as an individual.”
James Palmer, head of the Social Care Programme at NHS Digital, said: “The development of these standards marks a major step forward for social care, supporting better care for service users and wider use of shared digital records across the UK.”
“Several areas across the UK have already begun implementing the standards, resulting in improvements to wellbeing and health and care. The learning from these pilots will be shared across the country.”
More information on the Digital Social Care Pathfinders programme is available here or please see: www.theprsb.org/standards
