Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership has shared an update on its work through the Digitising Social Care Programme, highlighting how use of online service Proxy Access is helping them to order medications “safely and quickly” as well as supporting working relationships between GPs and care homes.
So far 80 care homes across the region are using Proxy Access, through which care providers can share medical information with residents’ GP practices, with nominated staff able to view and order medications, check test results or allergies, view upcoming appointment dates and book new appointments.
Kamal Benipal, registered manager at Belle Vue Care Home in Luton, comments that Proxy Access “makes the process of ordering repeat medication on behalf of the resident hassle-free. There are fewer risks and issues associated with the re-ordering of medication, and it’s given us more flexibility because we can order medication at any time of day.”
Another registered manager, Claire Croucher of Precious Homes in Milton Keynes, said that the service has “increased productivity and made things much easier for everybody. It’s increased communication and relationships with the GP surgery, and it reduces time wastage, medication errors and staff stress levels.”
Claire added that the new system feels like “a much more person-centred approach than it ever used to be”.
Last month, the ICB’s clinical pharmacist and cardiovascular disease implementation lead Matthew Davies joined us for a HTN Now webinar to discuss how digital tools have been implemented to improve population hypertension management. Catch up here.
We also previously covered Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes’ three-year digital strategy, which places focus on how digital and data technologies can support and empower residents to take an active role in their care.
On care homes, we reported on the enhanced framework from NHS England which highlights a need for digital readiness and data sharing to “provide personalised care, improve outcomes and promote independence for people living in care”.
