Find out how digital tools (Technology Enabled Care Service) can help patients - part of the Local Account Summary.
We believe in the power of technology to support people to receive the care they need, in their home, and our technology enabled care service (TECS), provided by NRS Healthcare in Paignton, has helped more people this year to stay safe and independent in their home. Anyone who is eligible for support following a Care Act assessment is considered for TECS before other packages of care are put in place. NRS Healthcare also offers a a private purchase option for people to choose different ways to support how they access the community and live independently or care for loved ones.
TECS support grew by 37% this year to help 1209 people who are funded by the council, compared with 882 people last year. This increase in referrals is largely due to the focus the TECS team has placed on engagement and training of our staff who either conduct or are involved in care assessments. Training has also been offered to care agencies, voluntary sector organisations, and health professionals who help get people home from hospital when they no longer need acute medical care.
Our TECS coordinator has been heavily involved in transformation projects to train teams. This led to increased support and confidence among our staff to promote how technology can meet people’s care needs. We estimated the service has saved more than £18 million of preventative savings this year, of which about £3.6 million is new this year. The service has benefitted from several years of performance and we are now seeing the positive benefits for the people we care for.
In January 2023, we launched a new initiative to help get people who no longer need acute care home from hospital.
Staff from Torbay Hospital’s discharge hub, and two wards, identified patients who were well enough to go home but were awaiting a care package or needed assistance. They were referred for a six-week trial of equipment. By the time the pilot ended in August 2023, an evaluation showed that of the 117 referrals, 85% of the successful installations reduced the risk of further calls to 999, NHS 111 and the patient’s GP. In 27 cases, the discharge pathway was reduced from pathway 2 to pathway 1; a reduction of 12 days in reablement support was gained, and 286 days of hospital beds were saved through an earlier discharge thanks to TECS. During the pilot, 31 people also converted their free trial into a private arrangement, which means the likelihood of statutory services will be delayed in all these cases.
The pilot is estimated to have saved £143,000 in hospital stays, £720 in reablement resources, and 31 people converted to retail could equate to almost £6.5, 000 of adult social care-funded equipment. The project's return on investment was £12.73 saved for every £1 spent.
Lucy, 19, has a mild learning disability and anxiety/depression, and is waiting for an autism assessment. She experiences absent seizures but refuses to take her epilepsy medication. At heightened states, she can experience 20 seizures a day.
With support, Lucy is learning basic skills but needs her mum to remind her to take her medication and to wash. Her mum has her own mental health needs and is at risk of carer’s breakdown.
A caseworker proposed incorporating six hours of personal assistant support a week to help Lucy to gain her independence and discussed her needs with the TECS team. They gave Lucy a smart speaker with a screen to remind her to wash, cook, clean, eat, drink and to take her medication and attend her appointments. Lucy and her PA could also use the smart speaker to find recipes and for her mum to keep in contact with her.
Dorothy, 80, often forgets to take her medication in the morning. Her daughter, who works full time and is unable to help her mum, contacted the team and asked if a TEC solution could help her mum to manage her morning medication.
The team suggested using a Memrabel 3, and with Dorothy’s consent they installed the device and showed the family how to use it. Dorothy is now managing her medication without support from her carers and has said that as a result her anxiety has reduced dramatically. Dorothy feels in control of her condition and her daughter has said that she’s relieved her mum is able to remain independent. The solution has also saved about 30 minutes a day in care costs.
Tom, 29, has learning difficulties. He lives with his mum but wants to live independently and to feel safe when he uses public transport.
The team spoke to Tom and with his consent gave him an Oysta Pearl II, which includes an emergency button, fall detector, a loudspeaker phone that allows two-way communication, and a location tracker.
Tom’s confidence has grown and he said he’s looking forward to using public transport to help him find somewhere to live, and to meet his friends. He feels safer knowing that he can call for help if he feels threatened or anxious.