Considering the recent report by Lord Darzi on the state of the NHS and the subsequent announcement of a 10-year plan for NHS reform by Keir Starmer, we at 2iC-Care find ourselves at a pivotal moment in healthcare transformation. As the CEO of 2iC-Care, I am compelled to address the critical issues raised in Lord Darzi's report, particularly those concerning social care, and to highlight how our innovative solutions align with the proposed changes.
The Social Care Crisis: A Call for Urgent Action
Lord Darzi's report paints a sobering picture of the current state of social care in England. The findings are clear: there is a growing gap between the needs of our population and the availability of publicly funded social care. This discrepancy is not just a matter of inconvenience; it has profound implications for individuals, families, and the NHS.
The Burden on Families and the NHS
One of the most striking revelations from the report is the extent to which the shortfall in social care is impacting both families and the NHS. Lord Darzi writes:
"With each passing year, the gap grows between those in need and those receiving publicly funded care. This places an increasingly large burden on families and on the NHS."
Families are finding themselves increasingly responsible for providing care, often without adequate support or resources. Meanwhile, the NHS is struggling to cope with the overflow, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal care outcomes.
The Hospital Bed Conundrum
Perhaps the most alarming statistic from the report is this:
"The impact of delayed discharges is equivalent to 13 per cent of all NHS beds."
This means that a significant portion of our hospital capacity is being used not for acute medical care, but as a stopgap measure for social care shortfalls. This is not only an inefficient use of resources but also a less-than-ideal situation for the individuals involved, who would be better served in more appropriate care settings.
Technology as the Cornerstone of Social Care Reform
At 2iC-Care, we believe technology must play a central role in revolutionising social care, particularly Tech-Enabled-Care which enables people to live in their own homes for longer. Our Andi solution aligns with three key shifts in the reform plan:
- Digitising health and care services
- Moving to more community-based care
- Focus on preventative care
Social Care Going Digital
Andi, our Technology Enabled Care solution is not just a piece of software; it's a comprehensive proactive & preventative solution designed to address the very issues highlighted in Lord Darzi's report.
Andi serves as a digital dispersed alarm unit, but its capabilities extend far beyond basic reactive alarms. It solves the analogue to digital transition as a reactive, reliable and resilient digital dispersed alarm that can connect with a variety of advanced health, care, environmental and behavioural peripherals. Alerts can monitor trends, specific thresholds, changes and this provides health and care professionals with a larger picture of a service users health and activity. This data is then presented as actionable insights to shift care to being proactive and preventative. In essence, Andi acts as a digital bridge between care recipients, communities, care providers, and the broader healthcare system.
Empowering Community-Based Care
The second part of the proposed NHS reform is the shift towards community-based care. Andi is designed to be operationally flexible, allowing for the redirection of alerts to family members or community supporters. This feature helps families and community members provide care more effectively without feeling overwhelmed.
Preventative Care
The third major shift proposed in the NHS reform plan is a move from reactive to preventative care.
Andi's proactive and preventative actionable insights are designed to identify potential issues before they escalate into crises requiring hospital admission. By analysing patterns and trends in an individual's data, we can help care providers intervene early, potentially avoiding hospital admissions and improving quality of life for care recipients.
A prime example of this preventative approach in action comes from our work in the Wirral. Andi monitored bathroom usage trends for a service user. When a significant change in pattern was detected, Andi automatically notified the carer. With this data, the carer was able to liaise with the service user's daughter and present the information to the GP for further testing. As a result, a kidney infection was identified and treated early.
This case illustrates perfectly how preventative data can improve care outcomes and reduce stress on the NHS, family members, and carers.
Addressing Workforce Challenges
The social care workforce is under immense pressure, a fact highlighted in Lord Darzi's report:
"The Local Government Association highlighted that the vacancy rate in adult social care is nearly three times that of the economy as a whole."
This shortage of care workers is a critical issue, but it's one where technology can play a mitigating role. By automating certain monitoring and alert functions, Andi allows care workers to focus their time and energy where it's most needed. Moreover, by providing actionable insights, we can help care workers make more informed decisions.
A Call for Collaborative Action
Lord Darzi's report and the subsequent reform proposals have opened the door to digital preventive focus solutions. At 2iC-Care, we're committed to being at the forefront of this transformation.
We believe that integrating technology into social care is not just an option; it's an imperative. Solutions like Andi can address many issues highlighted in the report, from reducing the burden on families and the NHS to enabling more effective community-based and preventative care.
As we move forward, collaboration is key. We call on policymakers, healthcare providers, and fellow innovators to join us in this crucial work. Together, we can create a more efficient, effective, and humane social care system that truly meets the needs of our population in the 21st century.
The challenges are significant, but so too are the opportunities. With technology as our ally, we can build a social care system that not only addresses the current crisis but sets a new standard for the future of care. At 2iC-Care, we're ready to lead the way.