Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 June 2023.

Independent evaluation finds scheme helped improve wellbeing, relationships and life satisfaction of children affected by parental alcohol use and conflict.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 31 May 2023.

Government takes steps to crack down on rogue firms targeting children with free samples.

• Increased education and dedicated school police liaison officers to keep illegal vapes out of schools
• Rules around sale of nicotine-free vapes and fines for shops selling illicit vapes to be reviewed

A loophole that allows the vaping industry to give free samples of vapes to children in England is set to be closed under new plans announced by the Prime Minister today to clamp down on youth vaping.

This comes as recent NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11 to 15 year old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018.

Selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, however it is clear from this recent rise in teenage usage of vapes and the recent surge in the use and promotion of cheap, colourful products that businesses are targeting children, which has prompted today’s action to crack down on this.

The government has also announced today that there will be a review into banning the vaping industry selling ‘nicotine-free’ vapes to under 18s. This will ensure our rules keep up with the way that vaping products are being used.

The news comes as the Prime Minister and Chief Medical Officer visited Kent Scientific Services in West Malling where e-cigarettes can be analysed for their content, to ensure manufacturers are complying with government regulations.

Manufacturers must notify the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before vape products are placed on the market, including disposables. The MHRA has recently taken steps to improve their notification processes and crack down on non-compliant vapes.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

I am deeply concerned about the sharp rise in kids vaping and shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children.

Our new illicit vape enforcement squad – backed by £3 million – is on the case, but clearly there is more to do. That is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products.

The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said:

While vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers, it is important that non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping. There has been a particularly worrying rise in the number of children using vapes, with companies clearly marketing these products at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options.

Closing the loophole that allows companies to give out free samples of vaping products to under 18s is a very welcome step in tackling some of the harms caused by the vaping industry.

We should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping as the lesser risk, while preventing the marketing and sale of vapes to children.

There will also be a review into the rules on issuing fines to shops selling vapes to under 18s illegally to allow local Trading Standards to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices more easily. This will aim to complement existing fine and penalty procedures, and where possible cover both illegal and underage sales for vapes and tobacco. Where gaps are identified, we will take action to close them.

Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

The shameful marketing of vaping products to children is leading to growing numbers trying e-cigarettes. Today we are therefore ramping up our efforts to stop kids getting hooked on vaping, including taking steps to crack down on companies handing out free vape samples to under 18s and adding lessons on the health risks of vaping within the curriculum for the first time.

We will also review the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage children, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under 18s – which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products. Alongside this our new specialised ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ will also clamp down on online shops selling illicit vapes to under 18s.

This builds on action announced last month to protect our children’s health and tackle underage vaping, while exploiting the potential of vaping to help adult smokers quit.

Gillian Golden, CEO of the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), said:

Selling products to under 18s has been illegal for some years now, as have proxy sales. Those who ignore the law bring reputable retailers who uphold strict age verification protocols into disrepute. We welcome the planned review on bringing nicotine-free products under existing rules and we look forward to continuing to support enforcement agencies in tackling illicit trade and illegal products.

The loophole allowing free samples to be distributed regardless of consumer age is a gap that no self-respecting business should ever have considered exploiting. The IBVTA applauds the announcement that such activity will soon be illegal.

While it’s concerning that access to vapes by young people is on the increase, it’s encouraging to see the government’s continued recognition of the important role that vaping plays in driving down adult smoking rates.

In a recent Action on Smoking and Health Smokefree GB Youth Survey 2023 of 11 to 17 year olds, 2 out of 5 young people said they smoke vapes “just to give it a try” and about 1 in 5 because “other people use them so I join in”.

That is why action will also be taken in schools, making sure that dedicated police school liaison officers across the country are using new resources to keep illegal vapes out of schools.

The health risks of vaping will be also included in Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) lessons, as part of the government’s ongoing review of RSHE, in order to further discourage children from taking up vaping.

Today’s new plans follow the announcement last month of £3 million of funding which has been provided to create a specialised ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ to implement the rules on vaping and tackle illicit vapes and underage sales. The squad – which will work with enforcement agencies and learn from the government’s work with Trading Standards on illicit tobacco – will also tackle online shops selling illicit vapes to under 18s.

A call for evidence on youth vaping launched last month will build on today’s action by looking at evidence into the appeal of vapes as well as the marketing and promotion of vapes, including on social media, to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products – and explore where government can go further. This will remain open for submissions until 6 June 2023.

Today’s measures for schools will build on new content published in October 2022 on the potential risks of vaping for young people on the FRANK and Better Health websites and we have provided input to educational resources produced by partners including the PSHE Association.

Our Office for Health Improvement foundand Disparities is also developing a new resource pack for schools on vaping, intended for children aged 11 to 13. The educational resource for young people will inform them about the addictiveness of nicotine and the evidence that young people’s developing brains may be more sensitive to its effects. It will also inform them about other potential health risks, while making clear the distinction between these risks and the known serious health harm associated with smoking tobacco. This will be made available via the Better Health School Zone website by July.

Schools can also access a Year 9 PSHE lesson on the consequences of vaping via the PSHE Association website.

While the rise in illegal youth vaping is a cause for concern, many addicted smokers have found using vapes helpful as a quitting tool. In April, we also launched announced a world-first national scheme, meaning almost 1 in 5 of all smokers in England will be offered a vape starter kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit as part of a series of new measures to help the government meet its ambition of being smoke free by 2030 – reducing smoking rates from 13% to 5% or less.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 May 2023.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty writes for The Times that marketing vapes to children is unacceptable – they should only have a role in helping smokers quit.

The key points about vaping (e-cigarettes) can be easily summarised. If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape; marketing vapes to children is utterly unacceptable.

Cigarettes are the biggest cause of entirely preventable illness and death in the UK. Smoking substantially increases the risk of heart disease, strokes, many cancers, dementia and lung disease among others. It harms those around the smoker, including children and unborn babies.

The cigarette industry model has always been to addict people to nicotine as early as legally possible, in the great majority of cases as teenagers. Once addicted, most smokers subsequently want to quit but this is very difficult. The deliberate industry-induced addiction has taken their choice away, despite claims by some industry lobbyists to be ‘pro choice’. To be pro nicotine addiction is to be anti-choice.

Helping smokers to quit is one of the best things we can do for their health. Using vapes (e-cigarettes) is a quitting tool many addicted smokers find effective, and given the multiple and immense health risks of smoking it is much safer to vape than to smoke. Swapping from smoking to vaping is therefore a positive health move.

Vaping is however not risk-free. We do not know the long-term effects of many vape ingredients and companies deliberately inducing nicotine addiction in others to maximise profits is not in the interests of the person being addicted. Non-smokers should therefore be encouraged not to start vaping, and in particular not to use vapes containing ingredients such as nicotine, the main aim of which is to addict them.

When it comes to children, we should be even more explicit. Companies trying to addict children for profit are behaving in a shameful way. Yet it is undoubtedly happening. In England, the proportion of 11 to 15 year olds using vapes increased from 6% to 9% from 2018 to 2021 and is still rising. Companies are marketing products targeted specifically at children using colours, flavours and cheap disposable options, whatever they may claim.

Unsafe, illegal vapes have also been pushed in our communities, with recent reports showing they can contain dangerous chemicals like lead and nickel. High levels of inhaled lead damages children’s central nervous system and brain development. Some products contain nicotine when claiming they do not, or contain harmful cannabis THC chemicals.

Announcements to reduce the marketing of vaping products to under 18s are a very welcome step in ending the harm that some parts of the vaping industry has created in children. The government has launched a call for evidence on further opportunities to prevent children vaping and I encourage people with evidence to submit it.

We should continue to encourage smokers to swap to vaping as the lesser risk, while preventing marketing and sale of vapes to children.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 May 2023.

There are more doctors and nurses working in the NHS than ever before, with hundreds more doctors in general practice and thousands more primary care staff.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 May 2023.

Five hospitals constructed mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) will be rebuilt by 2030 as part of the New Hospital Programme.

• Government remains committed to building 40 new hospitals by 2030
• Government confirms for the first time the New Hospital Programme is now expected to be backed by over £20 billion of investment in hospital infrastructure

Patients and staff will benefit from safe, state-of-the-art new facilities and improved care as the government announced its commitment today (Thursday 25 May) to rebuild 5 major hospitals by 2030, as part of the New Hospital Programme. For the first time, the government has confirmed a record investment of over £20 billion is expected to be spent on new hospital infrastructure.

The 5 hospitals are Airedale in West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire, Mid Cheshire Leighton in Cheshire and Frimley Park in Surrey. These hospitals all have significant amounts of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) – a lightweight type of concrete used to construct parts of the NHS estate in the past but which has a limited lifespan, after which it deteriorates significantly.

The NHS has asked the government to prioritise the rebuilding of these hospitals given the risks they pose to patients and staff – the full extent of which has come to light since the New Hospital Programme was first announced in 2020.

Two of the worst affected hospitals – West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and James Paget Hospital in Norfolk – have already been announced as part of the New Hospital Programme and the construction of these major new hospitals will be prioritised to ensure patient and staff safety.

As a result of this reprioritisation, as well as the rising cost of construction materials, up to 8 schemes that were originally due to be constructed towards the end of the decade will now be completed past 2030.

The government remains committed to delivering all hospitals within the programme as soon as possible – the biggest in a generation – and will ensure all schemes have adequate funding.

It is on track to deliver the manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals in England by 2030, because in addition to the 5 RAAC hospitals, 3 mental health hospitals will also be delivered through wider capital funding by 2030 – as part of a commitment to eradicate dormitory accommodation from mental health facilities across the country and put mental health on an equal footing to physical health.

Two hospitals in the New Hospital Programme are already complete and 5 in construction. By the end of next year more than 20 will be underway or complete.

The government will keep the situation under review and do everything it can to accelerate the completion timeline of the hospitals impacted, if circumstances allow. The New Hospital Programme will continue to work closely with new and existing schemes on their plans to ensure they deliver for patients, staff and communities.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

These 5 hospitals are in pressing need of repair and are being prioritised so patients and staff can benefit from major new hospital buildings, equipped with the latest technology.

On top of this I’m strengthening our New Hospital Programme by today confirming that it is expected to represent more than £20 billion of new investment in hospital infrastructure.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of our fantastic NHS, this extra investment will ensure it can care for patients for decades to come and help cut waiting lists so they get the treatment they need quicker.

Going forward, new schemes will be considered through a rolling programme of capital investment in hospital infrastructure to secure the building of new hospitals beyond 2030.

It will mean further future investment to upgrade NHS facilities across the country, with details to be agreed periodically to provide greater future certainty, and will allow more than 40 new hospitals to be built in the longer term.

By developing a national approach to delivering new hospitals, they can be built more quickly and at a reduced cost, providing value for taxpayers. Patients and staff will benefit from modern hospital design making use of the latest technology, digital innovation and sustainability to improve overall patient experience and provide a better working environment for staff.

This is in addition to substantial wider capital investment which is delivering vital improvements across the NHS, including major upgrades.

The government remains committed to eradicating RAAC from the wider NHS estate by 2035 and has already allocated £685 million in immediate support to affected trusts to help keep patients and staff safe.

Health Minister, Lord Markham, said:

We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country giving patients the certainty they can access world-leading care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.

In the immediate term, we’re focussing on quickly and safely rebuilding hospitals in areas which need it most – specifically those affected by this specific type of concrete, which poses a significant risk to patients and staff if not rebuilt by 2030 – with over £20 billion expected to be invested in new hospital infrastructure.

In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping speed up construction and improving services for patients faster.

Senior Responsible Owner of the New Hospital Programme, Natalie Forrest, said:

This is a significant milestone for the New Hospital Programme, as we continue to progress with delivering facilities for staff and patients at the cutting edge of modern technology with the experience of those who will use these hospitals at the heart of our focus.

We’re continuing to build healthcare infrastructure that improves patient care – including modern designs, creating single rooms ensuring maximum natural light and access to outdoor spaces. This new design will reduce the workload of NHS staff through digital solutions, well designed flow and designated areas for staff recuperation.

I look forward to continuing to work with all trusts already in the programme and welcoming the new ones into the New Hospital Programme.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 May 2023.

Patients will be given more choice and greater control over their own care, including through the NHS App.

• App and website will show different provider information to help patients choose where to go
• Research shows giving patients choice can cut up to 3 months off their waiting time – helping to deliver the Prime Minister’s promise to cut waiting lists

Patients will be empowered to choose where they receive their NHS care under new plans to help cut waiting lists, one of the Prime Minister’s 5 priorities.

A letter issued by the NHS today to local areas will require patients to be offered choice when clinically appropriate.

After speaking with their GP, patients will be able to view information for a minimum of 5 providers where possible, with information about waiting times, distance to travel and quality to help them make their choice. They will then be able to make a choice about where they go for treatment using the NHS App or website, based on their own circumstances.

Currently just 1 in 10 patients exercise their right to choose but research shows that giving patients choice can cut up to 3 months off their waiting time by selecting a different hospital in the same region.

During the pandemic, millions of people downloaded the NHS App to access services including the NHS COVID Pass. The plans announced today will expand the way that the NHS App and website are used to improve how patients choose to receive their care. Newly updated software to IT systems will also make the process easier for GPs when referring patients for treatment.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

Empowering patients to choose where they receive treatment will help cut waiting lists, one of my 5 key priorities.

Currently, just one in 10 patients make a choice about where they receive care. We want to change that by helping the NHS to offer patients a real choice while also giving patients the information they need to decide.

Our aim is to create an NHS built around patients, where everyone has more control over the care they receive, wherever they live or whatever their health needs are.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Every patient should be able to easily choose where they go to receive treatment and today’s package will put that power in their hands.

Millions of people downloaded the NHS App during the pandemic. Increasing use of this fantastic resource will enable them to exercise more choice and get access to essential information about the options for their care including journey time, length of wait and quality of service – all at the swipe of a smartphone screen.

This will not only give patients more control over their own care but could also wipe months off their wait by finding a hospital or clinic with a shorter waiting list.

Cutting waiting times is one of the government top 5 priorities and we are already making progress to tackle the backlog and are rolling out community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs to boost the numbers of tests, scans and operations.

Patients already on waiting lists will also benefit as, from October, those who have waited more than 40 weeks for an appointment but have not yet been given a treatment date, will be asked whether they want to switch hospitals, including one with a shorter wait, if possible and clinically appropriate. This builds on existing NHS ‘mutual aid’ arrangements between hospital trusts.

As the NHS continues to make progress in tackling the backlog, this threshold could be reduced over time, based on clinical advice, towards 18 weeks as fast as possible.

A new public awareness campaign will also encourage patients to exercise their right to choose and guidance has been provided to GP practices to support them to offer choice, with training available on using IT systems to make referrals.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive, said:

By giving patients greater choice and more information about their care through the convenience of the NHS app, we can change the way people access treatment options while also building on the fantastic work already being done by NHS staff across the country in bringing down the longest waits for care.

Despite significant pressure, the NHS reduced 18-month waits for care by more than 90% by April and alongside existing tools like elective hubs, surgical robots and ‘prehab’ checks, this is another way that we are continuing to embrace the latest innovations and tech for the benefit of patients.

Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

Staff at NHS trusts across the country have been working flat out to reduce the amount of time patients are waiting for elective treatment, and are making incredible progress.

Giving patients even more access to information about their appointments, and being able to choose where they take place through the convenience of the NHS App, will help trusts continue to provide patients with the best possible care, as quickly as possible.

The NHS App, which serves as a digital front door to the NHS, has over 32 million sign ups and receives around 75 million visits a month. Patients are already able to book and manage their GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and manage their hospital referrals through the app.

Dr Sarah Clark of Westgate Surgery, Otley, said:

As a GP I know how important it is for our patients to have the choice in where and when they are treated. Patients have different priorities and different needs and offering choice better fulfils that need.

By extending the options for patients they will be able to choose to be seen quicker or in more convenient locations for them. Hopefully this will, in part, help reduce the wait for secondary care referrals but also reduce the number of appointments not attended by patients who have been given no option over where or when they are seen.

This change will be embraced by my patients and is something which I, as their GP, support.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said:

We hope this announcement will make it easier for patients in England to use their long-established right to choose where they receive their care.

Work we’ve done shows patients’ awareness of choice is not high, nor are many offered choice regularly. Earlier this year, our survey of patients’ experience of healthcare found around only 1 in 6 patients we questioned had been given the opportunity to choose where they had their hospital care.

We hope the planned communications campaign will clearly explain choice and encourage people to exercise it. We welcome news of the support general practice is to get, but with the current pressures on general practice, it will be important they are supported to work in partnership with their patients to increase uptake of patient choice.

We hope the planned changes will lead to more patients exercising their right to choose where they have their treatment, enabling them to access and benefit from the healthcare they need to live well.

David Hare, Chief Executive, Independent Healthcare Providers Network:

We welcome today’s announcements from the government, and patients will too.

An awareness campaign to help the public understand their rights to choose is good news. We know many patients want to be given a choice as it can dramatically reduce their wait for NHS care. But too often patients are unclear that they have the right to choose a healthcare provider to deliver their NHS care – whether an NHS organisation or an independent sector one – free at the point of use.

Delivering new ways for patients to use the NHS App to choose and progress their care is a very exciting development. It’s great to see this functionality and capability being rolled out. Millions of people downloaded the app during the pandemic, so using this technology will really help modernise how we access healthcare, putting control into the hands of patients themselves.

Significant progress has already been made in bringing down waiting lists for patients – the NHS successfully met the first target in the elective recovery plan to virtually eliminate waits of over 2 years and has cut 18-month waits by over 91% from the peak in September 2021.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 May 2023.

New features in the NHS App improve patient experience and support elective care recovery, as well as helping reduce ongoing pressure on the health service.

A big leap forward in providing NHS patients with more direct control over their care – including allowing them to manage their hospital appointments – is being rolled out in participating trusts across England.

Finding ways to reduce pressures on the NHS took on more urgency as elective care capacity was reduced during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As trusts worked to support unprecedented demand on emergency and non-elective care, elective care waiting lists rose.

The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) has been a strategic partner in one of the newer and more innovative ways to help tackle this – developing new features for hospital appointments in the NHS App, which is fast becoming the digital ‘front door’ to the NHS.

The new features include the ability to see all appointments and referrals in one place in the NHS App, as well as book, change and cancel hospital appointments. Currently, these are live in the 28 acute trusts across the seven English NHS regions which have this functionality. Many more are expected to join them over the coming months.

ACE has been working with suppliers from ACE’s Vivace community of industry expertise, as well as NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, since January 2022. A proof-of-concept application programming interface (API) aggregator was built quickly, then developed into a beta in April 2022 due to the need to use live patient data in testing.

ACE has been key to:

• surfacing data from multiple hospital patient admission systems and Patient Engagement Portals (PEPs)
• developing a sophisticated system of APIs to gather and aggregate this data
• accelerating delivery speed by working as an integrated part of the NHS team
• developing an app style in keeping with the wider NHS App ecosystem, so that patients have confidence in the service, and that it is part of a joined-up system.

An added value was the speed at which ACE could bring suppliers on board, including individual PEP providers, which enable digital interaction with NHS services.

Providing better access to information and services is designed to improve patient experience, as well as enable conditions to be managed more effectively. Minimising the number of missed appointments, meanwhile, will free up appointments for those who need them, reducing waiting times and making more efficient use of clinicians’ time.

The next phase of the programme will see further features launched in the NHS App for patients in participating trusts. These will include receiving notifications and messages, the ability to complete pre-consultation questionnaires and being able to access documents relating to their appointments.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 May 2023.

UK delivers multi-million pound boost in Africa to strengthen health workforce and build resilience against global threats.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 18 May 2023.

The government has delivered on its commitment of recruiting 26,000 more primary care professionals – such as dieticians and paramedics – in GP practices.

• Over 26,000 more primary care professionals now working in GP practices since March 2019
• Government delivers key manifesto commitment to expand GP teams
• Wide range of healthcare professionals working alongside doctors and nurses delivering direct patient care as quickly as possible.

The government has delivered on its manifesto commitment of recruiting 26,000 additional primary care professionals – such as dieticians, paramedics and physiotherapists – who provide care directly to patients, or support doctors and nurses to do so.

A year ahead of the March 2024 pledge, data published today by NHS England shows there are 29,103 additional primary care staff helping to deliver on one of the government’s key priorities to cut waiting lists.

This means that since March 2019, there are 3 and a half times more people working in these roles – from 11,500 in 2019 to over 40,600 as of March – in GP practices working with doctors and nurses to deliver care to patients.

We are working to create many more appointments, with recent data showing there were almost 2 million more GP appointments delivered in March when compared to a year ago – that is 83,500 more appointments each working day.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Expanding our brilliant primary care teams was a key promise of this government, and we have delivered. It is fantastic news we have achieved our target to recruit an extra 26,000 primary care professionals almost one year earlier than planned.

These dedicated professionals play a vital role at the front door of our NHS – supporting patients, delivering excellent care and helping to cut waiting lists.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

This government is focused on cutting waiting lists – which is one of our 5 priorities – and getting patients the care they need, when they need it.

We have delivered on our promise a year early to recruit 26,000 extra primary care professionals which means more clinicians delivering better, more specialised and accessible care to patients.

Building on the primary care recovery plan, we are determined to end the 8am scramble, improve technology and reduce bureaucracy.

Today’s milestone builds on the recently published primary care recovery plan which set out action to make it easier for patients to contact their GP and end the 8am rush. It included £240 million funding given to practices across the UK this year to embrace latest technology.

More broadly, there are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS helping to deliver extra appointments, speed up diagnoses and tackle the COVID-19 backlog. Data also shows 440 more doctors working in general practice and face-to-face appointments on the rise.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS England Chief Executive, said:

It is fantastic to see more than 29,000 staff join our general practice workforce since 2019, a year ahead of the government target, following NHS recruitment campaigns with these new staff including mental health practitioners, social prescribers and pharmacists offering people expert care and advice at their local practice.

Thanks to these new GP teams record numbers of appointments are being delivered, with the latest figures showing that more than 31 million appointments took place in March 2023 – up almost a third compared to pre-pandemic.

The increase in primary care staff has enabled Mitesh – a pharmacist working in GP surgeries – to deliver approximately 100 appointments a week, helping assist GP staff with medication queries and carrying out reviews of patients with long-term health conditions and structured medicine reviews, which help maximise the benefit of medication.

Some GP teams have expanded to include dedicated care coordinators like Gill, who works with voluntary and care home services to provide support to patients with life-limiting conditions and release valuable time for GPs.

There are now thousands more care coordinators, working in general practices, ensuring all services are talking to each other about local, often frail and older patients and making sure there are no gaps in the support and care provided.

Care coordinators also offer patients more time so that GPs can see patients who are clinically unwell. With care coordinators, patients have the opportunity to go into more detail about their concerns, knowing that they will be raised with a GP if necessary.

Other examples of how better care has been provided include the recruitment of mental health practitioners in the North East and Yorkshire region which has meant increased access to mental health services closer to home for patients and a shorter waiting period. GP appointments are now freed up as patients do not have to repeatedly see a GP and patients are seen and treated by clinicians sooner.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 17 May 2023.

The What Good Looks Like framework and digital skills framework will support staff, providers and local authorities to benefit from new technology.

• Social care professionals to be supported to develop digital skills and drive digital transformation across the sector
• Guidance will set standard for digital transformation of adult social care in providing quality care
• People at home and in care settings to be better supported to reduce hospital admissions through new technology

Social care employers will be better able to equip their staff with the skills required to benefit from new technologies, enhancing patient care and providing staff with career development opportunities, thanks to new guidance published today.

To complement this, guidance for care providers and local authorities has also been issued, to set a standard for care and support settings when switching to using digital technology, such as virtual 24/7 monitoring centres to provide quick and instantaneous support.

For those working in adult social care, the digital skills framework will provide a structure in which new skills can be developed. This will ensure innovative technology is being put to the best possible use to enhance care, for example systems that allow a care professional to access a resident’s information from GP records through a digital social care record, to support their care from hospital to home.

Staff will be given training on how to use the technology which will include virtual care centres – where people drawing on care can access a care worker virtually for help and reassurance 24/7. This will give those needing care more autonomy and independence in their own homes by eliminating the need for reoccurring or overnight checks.

In some cases, care settings may choose to use the new structure to support staff in implementing new artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring technology which helps to reduce falls by tracking the movements of those receiving care.

The guidance covers 7 key themes including using and managing data, how to use technology for person-centred care and supporting a culture of good practice in using technology for personalised care.

Minister for Care Helen Whately said:

Technology embedded into care and support can be transformative both for people who need care and staff in the sector.

Innovative technology in care settings improves care and can increase the time that care workers spend with the people they care for.

The guidance and standards published today will give social care staff the support they need to improve their digital capabilities.

Sonia Patel, System Chief Information Officer at NHS England, said:

This new guidance is a significant step in ensuring our digital ‘north star’ is clear in all health and care settings, helping reduce health inequalities in every community in England. We’ve worked closely with social care colleagues to provide the What Good Looks Like guidance for adult social care, building on the framework we’ve already published for integrated care systems and providers which we’ll be updating later this year.

Alongside the digital skills framework, guidance for care providers and local authorities has also been published targeted at those who have a responsibility for digital transformation in local areas – such as digital leads, directors of adult social services, commissioners and service managers.

Developed with support from the Local Government Authority (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) (who are Partners in Care and Health as well as sector stakeholders), the What Good Looks Like guidance encourages smart foundations and safe practice of technology in care settings so the right technology can be used to benefit local people.

Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive of the National Care Forum, said:

The delivery of great quality, safe and person-centred care is the number one priority for all care providers. Digital approaches to the delivery of care should complement this work of care professionals and many innovative providers are already leading the way in driving this digital transformation, supported by teams who are digitally skilled and confident.

The publication of both the digital skills framework as well as the What Good Looks Like guidance will be essential resources in the journey towards ensuring all providers and people who receive care and support services can benefit from a digitised adult social care sector.

Councillor David Fothergill, chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

This guidance is designed to support local authorities and care providers of all sizes and types to modernise and improve the way they deliver care, such as expanded social care record systems in their areas. It will help support staff and put in place a better system that frees up more time for care.

Digitising social care is one of the key components of the Partners in Care and Health programme, delivered in partnership by the LGA and ADASS. It aims to help councils to improve the way they deliver adult social care, through developing and sharing best practice, providing support and building connections.

What Good Looks Like gives organisations and local authorities a standard to meet when seeking opportunities to modernise and improve the quality of care in their area through technology interventions such as the digital care record.

The guidance builds on the NHS England What Good Looks Like framework which provides clear guidance across 7 success measures for health and care leaders to digitise, connect and transform services safely and securely.

It provides a series of common goals to work towards that will help achieve the vision set out in People at the Heart of Care. It is an aspirational framework designed to be used by local authorities and care providers of all sizes and types of service, including both Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered and non-registered providers.

Digitising social care is part of the government’s recently published Next Steps to Put People at the Heart of Care plan to reform social care and improve the lives of the 10 million people who draw on, work in or provide, care and support.