Sutton Primary Care Networks chosen to be part of new programme exploring how technology can enable care at home and in the community.
Sutton Primary Care Networks has been selected by the Health Foundation, an independent organisation working to build a healthier UK, to be part of its exciting new £2 million innovation programme that will explore how technology can enable new approaches to care at home and in the community.
The Tech for Better Care programme is supporting 10 care teams from across the UK to develop, test and pilot promising new ideas and approaches to care over approximately 18 months.
The teams will develop approaches to care that focus on the caring and enabling relationships needed between those who deliver care and those who receive care, and on care that is proactive in supporting people to live a better and more independent life where possible.
The teams will be supported through a three-phase innovation process where they will initially explore opportunities and develop ideas. The most promising ideas will then be supported to test and pilot their new approaches.
The project from Sutton Primary Care Networks aims to address residual/longstanding aspects of clinical cared and deal with the psycho-social impact effects of being housebound.
Adults who are housebound are often socially isolated, have unmet care needs, suffer from higher mortality, and can struggle to access proactive care.
Adults who are housebound are often socially isolated, have unmet care needs, suffer from higher mortality, and can struggle to access proactive care.
Housebound older adults are also more likely to be people from social and economic disadvantage. We would like to explore the gaps in care for this cohort and find creative solutions using technology, patient empowerment, peer support amongst housebound patients and a renewed local partnership approach to positively disrupt the status quo.
“We are very grateful for this opportunity that enable us to create a new way to open the barriers for the people who might feel isolated or lost. Many people feel they are alone in this situation, and can’t see a way to overcome the physical, emotional, or social obstacles to engage with others.
Our devices and the technology will be easy to operate, meet the varying skills and needs of our communities, and we will provide plenty of help to make it less scary to the most novice handlers, aiming to break down those barriers that keeps people confined within their homes.
The Virtual Day Care Centre will provide chance to connect people with similar interest, build relationships, therapies, and chat rooms, along with a possibility to monitor aspects of clinical concerns if needed.
Reka Nagy, Operational Nurse Manager
“My thanks go out to Tech for Better Care and Health Innovation Find for allowing us to live our dream of optimizing quality of life of the most vulnerable of our population – the Frail, elderly housebound.
Prior to COVID, housebound people could still enjoy some socializing and clinical oversight by attending Day Care Centres. Many of these centres were already closing prior to COVID because of funding issues.
Since COVID, most have sadly not reopened, leaving the people they had helped lonely (more so because of loss of friends due to COVID) and isolated; these people avoid seeking medical help, so that chronic conditions are not frequently monitored, with resultant deterioration and hospitalisations.
Our vision – empowered by Health Innovation Fund – is to develop a tech enabled Virtual Day Care Centre in Sutton. We shall offer a variety of opportunities for social interaction between our clients, as well as daily symptom monitoring, group physical and psychosocial therapies, and regular clinical monitoring, with defined pathways for escalation of care, as well as monthly opportunities for in person get togethers.
Our project will ensure that the most vulnerable of our population will be “Home but Not Alone.”
Dr Robert Odes
“We’re very excited to launch this new programme and support these teams with their innovative ideas. Our aim is not only to get promising new ideas off the ground, but to demonstrate that by making the most of technology it is possible to deliver care in a way that is more proactive and focused on building supportive relationships, personally and with the community. Ultimately, we want to see the most effective piloted approaches scaled and spread to improve outcomes and experiences for those delivering and receiving care.”
Malte Gerhold, Director of Innovation and Improvement at the Health Foundation
