Digital pilot scheme, which will benefit care home residents, is underway in some Northumberland Care Homes

Monday 26 October 2020

NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is funding a digital pilot scheme which will support information sharing between staff in GP practices and care homes. It is hoped this will aid clinical decision-making and improve the detection and response to deterioration in adult patients.

Handheld Android tablet devices, along with diagnostic equipment including thermometers, pulse oximeters, which measure oxygen saturation levels, and blood pressure monitors are being trialled in 14 care homes in Northumberland. The initiave is hoped to support proactive intervention and communication between health and care teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will also benefit care home residents, as they will be able to be monitored and receive the care they need in the home, reducing the likelihood of having to travel to a GP practice or urgent treatment centre.

The equipment is being provided by HealthCall which is a collaboration between foundation trusts in the North East. HealthCall is also providing remote training to care home staff to enable them to use the equipment appropriately and effectively. At least two of the Android devices are being piloted in each area of Northumberland to give a fair overall outcome.

The pilot is in response to NHS England’s Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) framework which supports collaborative working between health, social care, Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and care home partners to give patients the same level of support as if they were living in their own homes.

Feedback of this pilot will be monitored over the next three months to better understand how the equipment is being used and the next steps for a potential wider rollout.