The Government’s Assistive Technology & Telecare Initiative Denise Gillie Department of Health

Policy Context DH Green Paper: Independence Well-being & Choice Stephen Ladyman Community Minister ‘This Green paper sets out our vision. It includes how we get health and social care to work better together and how we take advantage of technology’

Vision for Telecare Integrated health, housing and social care systems Multi-agency approach Joint strategic commissioning Focus on needs of users and carers Range of telecare services from home security to vital signs monitoring for long term conditions

Background Audit Commission: Independence and Well-being. The Challenge for Public Services – Assistive Technology Feb 2004 July 2004 DH ‘Preventative Technologies Grant for older people’ £80M 2005 Partnerships for Older People Projects £60M

The Grant Guidance note July 2005: setting out purpose of the funding & indicative funding allocations National & regional conferences & seminars Proposed target in SSD Delivery & Improvement Statements ‘Getting Started’ pack sets out what to do

The Challenge No mainstream telecare in England 150 SSD’s, 303 PCT’s, 238 housing authorities, housing associations, alarm providers & out of hours services Implementation can be a lengthy process – procurement, training, information sharing, charging Funder is not the only beneficiary Linking DH funding and Supporting People

The Terminology Assistive technology: any equipment or system that assists people who have difficulties due to age or disability in carrying out every day tasks Telecare: the remote or enhanced delivery of health and social services to people in their own home by means of telecommunications & computerised systems Telemedecine: the practice of medical care using interactive audio-visual & data communications

The Business Case Empowerment of users: involved in meeting their housing care & health needs Better use of staff time: response to specific needs, alerts & circumstances Reduction in unplanned hospital admissions Delay or reduce admissions to residential care Quality of life: independence at home, improved well-being

Telecare & Health Targets: hospital admissions to grow by less than 1%, 98% of patients treated in A &E within 4 hours Practice based commissioning: GP’s can choose to have control of their budgets in April 2005 Long term conditions: community matrons & case management

Long Term Conditions All PCT’s have a target to appoint community matrons Research (Kings Fund & Castlefields GP practice) shows that matrons & case management must be part of local care & support system & co-ordinate services for patients in order to deliver significant improvements

First Steps Joint Commissioning Strategy for DH funded telecare taking account of existing infrastructure S31 agreement pooled budget? Specification: equipment, contracts, service provider Monitoring & evaluation arrangements, including benefits to health, social care & housing AND service users

Access to Telecare Fair Access to Care Services: critical, substantial, moderate, low Single Assessment Process: contact, overview, specialist, comprehensive national programme for IT Self assessment Financial assessment & charging Direct payments Self purchase

Considerations Are existing services & equipment fit for purpose? Who pays & how are service users charged? Impact of SP reviews and funding cuts Development of extra care housing Does it have the support of clinicians? Is it reliable, easy to use & maintain Does the technology fit the individual?

Sources of Information Websites: Literature - The use of ICT to support independent living for older & disabled people DH Housing LIN factsheet. Assistive Technology in Extra Care Housing DH 2004