NHS Digital has announced new funding will demonstrate how predictive analytics and digital information sharing can improve care and support for people needing social care services.
NHS Digital has awarded eighteen councils a share of £1.4m to develop digital projects that support social care. Successful bids include Westminster Council’s plan to use apps and Skype to share appropriate information when discharging from hospital into care and Wolverhampton Council’s proposal to improve intervention by using predictive analytics for early identification of adults with complex morbidities.
The successful local authorities are:
Improving the flow of health information into social care (over £820,000 in total)
- Westminster City Council
- Newham Council
- Rutland County Council
- Haringey Council
- Lincolnshire County Council
- Lewisham Council
- North Tyneside Council
- Manchester City Council
- Milton Keynes Council
Improving the flow of social care information into health (nearly £200,000 in total)
- Sutton Council
- Hull City Council
- Nottinghamshire County Council
Using predictive analytics for early intervention and prevention (nearly £350,000 in total)
- Islington Council
- City of Wolverhampton Council
- Central Bedfordshire Council
- Worcestershire County Council
- Nottinghamshire County Council
- Luton Borough Council
The funding is aimed at supporting collaborative partnerships between local authorities, the third sector, health partners and academia.
Caroline Dinenage, Minister for Care said: “Digital technology has the potential to transform the way we deliver care, improving the experience for those receiving it and freeing up staff time so they can spend more with those in their care.
“This funding will enable councils and their partners delivering social care to make information sharing fast, secure and accurate, and will make the journey as smooth as possible for some of the most vulnerable in our society as they move between care settings.”
James Palmer, Head of the Social Care Programme at NHS Digital said: “The successful projects span a wide range of areas and give a glimpse into the future of social care. From giving care providers access to hospitals’ electronic patient records in real time, reducing delayed discharges, to providing health care professionals with live social care alerts.
“There is great potential for these projects to be replicated easily to deliver benefits quickly for the system and pave the way for a truly integrated future.
“The work on predictive analytics is significant given its potential to support people at earlier stages which may help to reduce the need for long-term social care. Through the use of predictive models that forecast service need and target interventions, we have the chance to help people remain independent, in their own homes, for longer.”
