New funding for social care information sharing

New funding worth £1.4 million will help demonstrate how predictive analytics and digital information sharing can improve care and support for people needing social care services.

In total, 18 councils will share the NHS Digital funding to develop digital projects that support social care and encourage collaborative partnerships between local authorities, the third sector, health partners and academia.

The funding is split between improving the flow of health information into social care (over £820,000 in total), improving the flow of social care information into health (nearly £200,000 in total) and using predictive analytics for early intervention and prevention (nearly £350,000 in total). The full list of councils is at the foot of this article, while a more in depth breakdown of how the money will be spent can be found on the NHS Digital website.

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, added: “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.”

Improving the flow of health information into social care:
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:
Sutton Council
Hull City Council
Nottinghamshire County Council

Using predictive analytics for early intervention and prevention:
Islington Council
City of Wolverhampton Council
Central Bedfordshire Council
Worcestershire County Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
Luton Borough Council