When coronavirus took hold, care providers were encouraged to use technology, including video linking, secure email and remote care and monitoring devices or apps, so that health and social care could join up more easily and people could get care more quickly. Yet adapting to digital platforms has been challenging in a sector where many providers are small family-run businesses, and around a third rely on paper-based records, according to research by IPC last year.
Digital Social Care set up a helpline to provide technical help and support to social care providers and teamed up with IPC to carry out research with social care providers to help them tackle digital challenges during the pandemic and beyond.
This report of the action research identifies both the challenges but also the benefits for care providers of using technology. The project was funded by NHSX, a new unit within the NHS who are driving the digital transformation of care.
For more information contact Fiona Richardson.
