Suffolk’s digital care technology service sees huge results for social care and the NHS
Data released by Cassius, a partnership between Suffolk County Council, Alcove and Rethink Partners, has highlighted the benefits of the digital care technology service launched in July 2021.
Suffolk County Council’s Cassius service has helped to better care for end users, reduce preventable visitations to healthcare facilities and save vital social care funding.
With over 2,600 pieces of assistive technology installed, the service has helped to change the lives of 1,600 people.
It is estimated that the service has helped to save £4.2 million in social care and cashable savings of £430,000. While saving around £160,000 to the local NHS.
One of the many success factors to service is that the technology is customised to a person’s individual circumstances ensuring that addresses specific requirements.
While the NHS is under ‘record pressure’, 118 avoided ambulance call-outs and prevented hospital admissions have been a great benefit, saving around 170 hospital days and freeing up beds for those most in need.
Councillor Rebecca Hopfensperger, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Cassius has exceeded all our expectations and our social work practitioners are quickly becoming the most digitally advanced in the country.
“We have developed this service from scratch and this data is a testament to how you can transform services and continue to provide positive experiences and benefits to all. We are very pleased to see the added value to the wider health system too.
“Most importantly, however, is the impact on people’s lives which has been wonderful to see and we are getting some fantastic feedback from people using the technology.”
Cassius provides digital care technology to people in Suffolk to help them to remain independent for longer and to support them to live safe and well at home, using technologies including movement sensors, smart watches, wearables, falls prevention devices and technology to address specialised needs.
Recently, Alcove and its partners won a contract worth £15 million to deliver an innovative care technology service on behalf of Suffolk County Council.
Alcove specialises in delivering connected care technology systems for local authorities, the NHS, housing associations and sheltered accommodation providers across the country.
Its intelligent care technology ecosystem was developed to enhance independent living for older and disabled adults, and revolutionise the delivery of care and support services globally to provide the 21st-century replacement for telecare.
Hellen Bowey, CEO of Alcove, the company providing the technology said: “What we have collectively achieved in the last year is amazing.
“We plan on continuing to evolve the service and are looking at more health integration, exciting functionality, and new ways to incorporate data on our platform to see greater outcomes for people. I am so proud to see the stats and can’t wait to see what the future will bring.”
Rethink is an organisation dedicated to improving health and care services. The team all have background in public sector leadership and are experienced change agents.
