June 7th 2024
The national body representing care providers’ interests in digital technology is calling on the next government to accelerate and maintain the safe use of digital technology and data sharing to support people to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Digital Care Hub has published its manifesto for the 2024 general election.
Michelle Corrigan, Director of Digital Care Hub, said:
“Digital tech and the smart use of data can transform lives and reduce pressures on the health and care system. We’ve seen that it can support people to live independently, predict and reduce the need for more intensive care, and free up care workers to do what they do best – deliver care.
“It’s a clear win-win for social care, the NHS and most importantly, the people who rely on us. We don’t have many of those, so we are calling on government to work with the sector and seize the opportunities that technology offers.
“Real progress has been made in recent years, but we need a long-term, ambitious and funded plan. And we need to bring together the expertise of people drawing on care, care workers and providers, and tech and software developers to coproduce tech solutions that really improve people’s outcomes and that work for our sector.
“Let’s be ambitious and aim to be global leaders in the smart, safe use of technology and data in social care.”
The manifesto for digitisation in the adult social care sector focuses on 5 key areas. The priority actions for the incoming Government are highlighted below:
1. Put people at the centre of digital and data innovations
Create a sector-led innovation hub where tech and software developers can share and coproduce solutions with people drawing on care services, carers, care workers and care providers.
2. Strengthen the digital infrastructure
Support the social care sector to become digitally mature. This includes sustained funding for: purchasing, upgrading or transferring of tech and data systems; ongoing licences; expert support on choosing and using technology safely; training on how to make the most of tech and data – including care staff, managers and decision makers.
3. Support safe, appropriate data sharing
Co-design data standards with care providers and fund an implementation and support programme for the sector; enable role-based access to data; and reduce the data collection burden on social care providers by collecting data once and re-using it and by automating data collection as far as possible.
4. Reinforce data protection and cyber security
Deliver the implementation plan for the National Health and Social Care Cyber Security strategy; codesign an effective national cyber incident response plan with the care sector; and expand the national support programme (Better Security, Better Care) to all care and support organisations.
5. Develop the workforce’s digital skills
Incorporate digital and data skills training within an adult social care workforce strategy, develop and promote digital career opportunities within social care, and consider a digital workforce passport across health and social care.
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