Social care providers and councils are not currently set up to take advantage of improved efficiencies in digital technology, report finds.
A new report from Mobile UK, the voice of the UK’s main mobile network operators, has found that only 40% of social care providers are currently ‘digitised’.
The organisation argues that better connectivity could help cash-strapped local authorities improve their social care services and find savings at the same time.
New digital devices offer adults in need of in-home living support provision the chance to live independently for longer. For every additional week not in residential care councils can save £648 per person – or £33,700 per year.
Improvements in digital connectivity can also help the NHS. Remote monitoring to ensure medication is taken can potentially reduce hospital admissions by 60%.
Mobile UK also argues that digital solutions can also help alleviate the social care staffing crisis by supporting better working conditions, easier reporting capabilities, enhanced recruitment processes and upskilling.
Commenting on the Connected Care report, chief executive for Mobile UK, Hamish MacLeod said: ‘With the pressure on councils more pronounced than ever and social care one of the biggest challenges they face it is important that the role of digital connectivity and the opportunities it offers are better understood.
‘Our report highlights many of these opportunities both to the council and those in need, calling for mobile connectivity to be more heavily integrated into council policy and planning.’
