The adult welfare sector contributes an estimated £ 41.2 billion a year to the British economy. Although this system is diverse and complex, it is based on simple and uniform principles and continues to make a huge difference for vulnerable people every day.

Social welfare pressures have led to persistent problems and increasing levels of unmet needs; an aging society, a crisis in recruitment and retention and pressure on public sector budgets, which has resulted in unsustainable levels of demand.

The role of medical devices in the provision of health services is now increasingly accepted and revised. Whether it's the use of virtual care platforms, remote monitoring solutions, communication tools, digital applications or sophisticated data platforms, services are entering a new phase of digital adulthood to overcome the obstacles facing social care services.

Digital Transformation

The digitization of health care offers opportunities for the health and well-being of our population and for results for the prosperity of individuals.

Advances in the delivery, size and quality of digital technology and tools for medical community care can improve the system's interaction with key partners. Investments in digital innovation and the integration of medical devices have a multiplier effect in terms of reducing pressure on healthcare professionals and improving the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.

Technology has historically been seen as a complement to existing services rather than a way to change healthcare models, leading to difficulties in effectively integrating new facilities. Cultural change is needed, which in turn requires timely involvement. We need to lead from above to ensure that stakeholders have information at an early stage about how the technologies and the citizens who support them can help them. There are still important misconceptions that need to be addressed; that is, technology enables better services, not a substitute for human contact.

The benefits of digital innovation

Existing solutions already have benefits that are constantly being demonstrated. For example, remote patient monitoring (RPM) enables early intervention in addressing the need for more comprehensive care for people living with chronic diseases, such as hospitalizations and ambulance calls.

TECS or telecare systems can be adapted to the needs of each user. These systems offer vulnerable people the opportunity to call a specialized surveillance center for emergency assistance 24 hours a day. Such technology is scalable, cost-effective, and helps individuals stay independent for longer periods of time, as well as making sure they are person-focused rather than local.

The latest data-based technology can respond to incidents and predict diseases while preventing them in the first place. Data can be obtained from multiple sources, including motion sensors, smartphones, wearable devices and recordings, to provide a clear picture of the risks one faces.

These new approaches will benefit end users as we still see innovations in medical devices and new technologies. Reducing the need to travel to meetings with clients or caregivers, delivering real-time data, and reducing the number of hospitalizations can all improve outcomes for users, reduce costs, and enable more efficient care delivery.

Technology in practice

Technologies such as RPM can provide comprehensive real-time insights that provide predictive and preventative care and provide alternatives to personal care.

In healthcare facilities, technology can be used to manage and support well-being and to strengthen care. Medical staff will measure blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation and these results will be sent to the response centers, where results outside the parameters set for the individual will trigger a system alarm.

It enables stakeholders to control and treat vulnerable people before a crisis occurs, reducing pressure on our health and social care systems, reducing costs and improving living conditions. During and after the COVID crisis, staff and clients of the care home used RPM when they had concerns about the resident's health; use the pill to record vital signs and help them identify the cause of health problems and symptoms.

The remote monitoring approach supports nursing homes during a pandemic and allows for more active care in the longer term, as early intervention eliminates the need for more comprehensive care and better outcomes.

In nursing homes, greater investment in technology can reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and make it easier for them to take care of where and when they are most needed.

The future of social care

As highlighted in the recent White Paper on Adult Social Welfare Reform People at the heart of government care, technology has played an important role in creating a modern care platform capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century, a technology that has enabled the population. 

With GBP 300 million to help integrate services into local strategies, the White Paper also promises at least GBP 150 million in additional funding to support greater technological adoption and digitization of comprehensive welfare, although this requires a basic level of digital functionality as it must succeed.