[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]January 28, 2020

A project which will allow care homes to share digital records with hospitals, GPs and other health services is being introduced across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

A grant of £300,000 from NHS Digital has been secured to fund the roll out to care homes of the digital care record system, Connecting Care, bringing them in line with more than 24 other health and care organisations in the area which already use the system.

Connecting Care is described as one of the most advanced digital care records in the country and is used for sharing information, providing health and care professionals with instant, secure access to up-to-date health and social care records.

Access to the system means individuals with complex care needs, such as care home residents, will have their health and social care information in once place, including GP appointments, hospital admissions and medication. The update will make Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire one of the first areas in the country to share data with care homes in this way.

The project has begun at the Orders of St John Care Trust in South Gloucestershire and will be made available to up to 50 care homes in the coming months.

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG project manager Harriet Soderberg, who works across health and social care, said bringing care homes into the Connecting Care system would allow authorised care home staff immediate access to important information shared by other health and social care professionals.

“It will help ensure care home residents do not have to tell their story more than once, improve the safety and efficiency of patient transfers between hospital and care homes and enable professionals to make the right care decisions based on up-to-date information,” said Ms Soderberg.

“This is a key part of our ambition to improve digital co-ordination between different health and social care services. Care homes are an essential part of our health and care system and enabling them to join Connecting Care will support all care professionals to provide better, safer and more efficient care to people who live in care homes.

“This is a truly innovative step towards digital integration and we are excited to be offering the opportunity for care homes in our region to move forward with us and provide the best care.”[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”31802″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1580212502607{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1536940576920{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] ')} [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]