Event to support local care providers with digital innovation hailed great success

Around 80 care sector staff from across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes came together recently to learn about the latest digital tools and innovations that can help improve care experience.

The Digitising Social Care programme (DiSC) at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership supports care homes and home care providers to start using new technologies that help improve care experience. The digital tools in care homes help to save time for care staff – allowing teams to spend more time caring for the people who use their services in the environment they see as home.

The conference was opened by Patricia Coker, senior responsible officer on the DiSC programme, who said:

“It’s important to us that we keep care providers informed and involved so that they understand what’s available and how to access support. This conference is an excellent way for us to build on these relationships, share our successes – but also to gain feedback and suggestions to help shape our priorities and direction for the future.”

Following the success of last year’s first event, the 2023 care conference – ‘BLMK Future Digitisation of Social Care’ was an opportunity to showcase the latest digital tools and initiatives available through this programme. The programme focuses on three key areas – health monitoring, falls prevention and digital records.

A variety of speakers and live demonstrations covered many of the innovations available, and 20 suppliers had stands in the ‘marketplace’ area.

Clare Steward, Digitising Social Care programme director, added:

“Residents, carers, and the workforce are at the forefront of all the innovations funded through the DiSC programme. From helping care home staff to access the information they need to care for their residents, to smart technology that improves quality and safety and helps keep people safe and well.

“The impact is already being seen, with reduced demand for A&E services and hospital stays. For those who need a hospital stay, innovations make it easier to get back home as soon as they’re well enough. In addition, care home staff are learning new skills and becoming more digitally confident.”

Anda Marin, Manager of Burlington Hall Care Home, Woburn Sands, said:

“The team have had a wonderful and informative day. We came last year, and it has been useful to return to hear about how initiatives have progressed. We have gained a lot by meeting members from the DSCR team and NHS England and to have an opportunity to ask them questions directly about funding and how the schemes work.”

Anne Bentley from Bushmead Court, Bedford, said:

“We are still using paper for our care records, and we feel the pressure to go digital. Meeting the suppliers has been interesting and informative, and we have been talking to the right people to find out how we can access the co-funding to get this up and running.”

To find out more about the DiSC programme, visit https://blmkhealthandcarepartnership.org/about/our-priorities/data-and-digital/digitising-social-care-disc-programme.