The 10-Year Health Plan: Priorities for social care digitisation

December 10th 2024

In the first of a series of articles, we outline our response to the Government’s recent consultation on the 10-Year Health Plan for England. We focus on how technology and data sharing can improve health and social care outcomes.

What should be included in the 10-Year Health Plan?

The 10-Year Health Plan presents a unique opportunity to address longstanding challenges in health and social care. By prioritising digitisation, fostering innovation, and strengthening collaboration between health and social care, the plan can transform the sector for the better. At Digital Care Hub, we are committed to supporting this vision and ensuring that adult social care providers are equipped to deliver safe, effective, and innovative care in a digital world. Together, we can create a system that works for everyone.

1. A National Framework for Digitisation Across Health and Care

A consistent national approach to digitisation is crucial. We would like to see a national framework for digitisation across health and care which includes individuals who fund their own care. This should include a clear roadmap for digitisation, policy direction and funding. We want the government to build on recent advances, accelerate and maintain the safe use of digital technology and data to support people to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Recent advances have shown that where funding and support are available, the adult social care sector responds positively. Between 2021 and 2024, the proportion of care providers using digital technologies jumped from 40% to over 70% (source). This momentum must be maintained to embrace emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and preventative tech.

2. Support for sustainable digital transformation

There is increasing evidence that the use of technology creates efficiency savings for organisations and improves care outcomes and technology. (see Kings Fund report and Social Care blog).

However, in a recent survey, 75% of providers said they are considering halting or scaling back their digital projects due to financial pressures (Care Provider Alliance survey).

The 10-Year Plan must include funding to sustain and increase these gains, covering digital infrastructure, such as reliable internet connectivity and affordable software licenses, and support for ongoing adoption of technologies to bridge the digital divide and prevent inequalities.

3. Alignment with sector priorities

Based on our consultations with care providers, we’ve identified five priorities for adult social care digitisation:

1. Put people at the centre of digital and data innovations.
2. Strengthen digital infrastructure.
3. Support safe, appropriate data sharing.
4. Reinforce data protection and cyber security.
5. Develop the workforce’s digital skills.

These priorities align with wider industry recommendations, such as TechUK’s Five Point Plan for Care Technology, which we endorse.

Addressing hospital discharges and community-based care

Delayed discharges from hospitals remain a pressing issue. Around 25% of patients facing delays of more than 21 days are waiting for a care home bed, while 21% are waiting for home care services (Nuffield Trust). These delays strain hospital resources and highlight inefficiencies in the discharge process.

Limited interoperability remains a real barrier. There is no consistent national mechanism for sharing medical discharge information between hospitals and CQC-registered care providers. Developing a national discharge data standard could streamline this process.

Innovative technologies like the Dashboard for Accelerating Discharge (DAD) already help thousands of families find care placements each month. Scaling up these tools could reduce delays.

Maximising technology in health and care

Technology must focus on the outcomes that matter most to people who use care services. Co-production is key – solutions should be developed in partnership with care providers, carers, and those who draw on care.

A strong infrastructure underpins successful digital transformation. However, many care homes lack reliable internet access, a fundamental barrier to digitisation (Ipsos Mori).

Care workers often use personal devices for work-related tasks, incurring additional costs on low wages. Partnerships with telecom providers could help mitigate these costs.

Care providers face challenges with fragmented systems that lead to duplication and errors. Streamlining data collection and sharing through common standards would improve care planning and delivery; reduce administrative burdens and enable insights to enhance care quality.

As digital adoption increases, so do cyber threats. Strengthening the sector’s cyber resilience through national programmes like Better Security, Better Care is essential.

The care workforce must be equipped with digital skills. Training initiatives, career pathways, and new roles such as care technologists (Scottish Care) can help attract and retain talent in this evolving sector.

Supporting early intervention and prevention

Integrated data systems between health and social care could enable earlier detection of illnesses and proactive interventions. Technologies that support monitoring and prevention, such as assistive devices and wearable health tech, should be scaled up to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs.

Significant work has been done by organisations like the Technology Services Association (TSA) and the Care Software Provider Association (CASPA) to explore these opportunities.

Policy recommendations and timelines

To realise these ambitions, we propose the following actions, grouped by priority and timeframe. Watch out for our next article when we will expand on these recommendations.

Quick wins (Next 1-2 Years):

• Develop a National Advisory Group of people drawing on care and families to shape digital strategies.
• Consistently involve care providers as equal partners in planning and implementing data and digital strategies.
• Extend NHS England’s Future Connectivity programme to adult social care providers.
• Codesign an effective national cyber incident response plan with the care sector and partners

Medium-term goals (2-5 Years):

• Support and require all commissioners of social care to build in the cost of tech investment, maintenance, licences, training, data protection and cyber security arrangements into fees.
• Simplify and automate data collection processes to reduce provider burden.
• Generate and share data insights from different systems with care providers in order to monitor trends and improve the quality and effectiveness of care.
• Establish a regulatory sandbox for testing new technologies.
• Create digital career opportunities and expand training programmes.

Long-term changes (5+ Years):

• Ensure every care provider has access to high-speed internet and interoperable digital systems.
• Provide sustained funding for technology adoption and maintenance.
• Standardise integration approaches across Integrated Care Systems (ICS).

Share your views on our recommendations.

Contact [email protected], or join the debate on social media #DigitalCareFuture

Photo by Per Lööv on Unsplash