88 per cent of care homes in the South West London region now have digital social records in place, and 45 per cent are live with the London Universal Care Plan, according to an update from the ICS, which also shares that these developments are contributing to a 9 percent reduction in the number of residents taken to hospital by ambulance among the care homes using the system.
The update highlights the “particularly crucial” nature of the plan for those reaching the end of their lives, helping record their wishes about how and where they would like to be cared for, as well as personal preferences. Minh Ha, manager of Beulah Lodge in Croydon, noted how being able to see live information prior to waiting for results from a doctor was “helpful” in speeding up the discharge process; whilst Andrea Howell-Jones, manager of Alexander House care home in Merton, pointed to its usefulness in offering access to information under one roof, meaning “in case of an emergency, we just need to tell the paramedics we’re on the Universal Care Plan”.
Other tech in use in care homes across South West London includes the Magic Table, a digital entertainment system offering games and puzzles for residents and family members, said to support “a change in social stimulation and with some of the residents’ anxiety”.
The PainChek solution, is also in use in 20 care homes in the region, which utilises AI to identify subtle expressions indicating someone is in pain, supporting those who might be unable to express their pain verbally. The ICS noted that “in 2024, over 8,000 PainChek assessments were completed for more than 500 residents, improving pain detection accuracy and speed.”
Tech and data in supporting care
Last year, NHS England published a case study entitled “Improving care home residents’ wellbeing through digital technology – South Devon and Torbay”, in which Digital Health Devon, a collaboration between the NHS, Torbay council and local Healthwatch; aimed to support care homes and their residents in making the best use of SMART technology. Using an introductory pack from Digital Health Devon, which comprises of Amazon Alexa ™ devices, a meta portal, mobile phones and Wi-Fi extenders; staff in care homes receive online training to help them to put this plan and tech in place for their residents.
In December, NHSE published its enhanced health in care homes (EHCH) framework, highlighting a series of digital enablers including digital readiness and data sharing, to support the provision of proactive care. The framework is intended for PCNs, providers and commissioners of community health and social care services, “so that the entire system works together to provide personalised care, improve outcomes and promote independence for people living in care”. It highlights changes to working practices driven by the pandemic, including the use of digital to enhance integration and information sharing.
Earlier this year, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership 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.
