NHSX is working with technology firms to help some of
society’s most at-risk and isolated people access vital
emotional support and companionship during COVID-19.
As part of this work, Facebook will provide up to 2,050
of its Portal video-calling devices for free to
hospitals, care homes and other settings including
hospices, in-patient learning disability and autism
units.
50 of the devices have already been deployed to pilot
sites in Surrey, with Manchester, Newcastle and London
and other areas to follow, with support from Accenture.
NHSX Digital Transformation Director Iain O’Neil said:
Technology companies big and small continue to pledge
their resources and expertise to support our NHS and
social care system in these unprecedented times.
We are working hard to find and develop services that
meet people’s equally unprecedented needs. Technology
has never been so important to providing one of life’s
most essential things – the ability to communicate with
the people we love regardless of where they are.
As well as providing solutions to reducing social
isolation among residents and patients, NHSX is working
with a range of technology companies to support the NHS
and social care system in these unprecedented
times.
Additional solutions include enabling health and care
staff to work remotely when they may be advised to work
at home, improving communication between clinical and
care teams, shifting hospital outpatients to virtual
appointments, and accelerating the use of online and
video consultations within GP and primary care services.
Minister for Care said:
Social distancing is tough on us all, and we must
remember how beneficial interaction with loved ones is
for our wellbeing.
I’m delighted that NHSX is partnering with Facebook to
make it easier for those in care homes to keep in touch
with friends and family, alongside the ongoing hard
work by NHSX to expand communication capabilities
across the health and social care sector.
Vic Rayner, Executive Director, National Care Forum and
Care Provider Alliance, said:
We are thrilled to see solutions being offered to Adult
Social Care providers that can support residents in
care homes to communicate with their loved ones
remotely during this COVID-19 outbreak, and are very
much looking forward to hearing how these Facebook
Portal devices are used and what impact they have
during this difficult time.
This is a fantastic starting point and with other
systems offering similar solutions we are sure that
communications between care recipients and their loved
ones will continue to be a priority that is supported.
Freddy Abnousi, MD, Head of Health Technology, Facebook
said:
We designed Portal to give people an easy way to
connect and be more present with their loved ones. With
the global pandemic and social distancing measures, the
ability to stay connected is more important than ever.
That’s why we are piloting a programme with NHSX to
provide Portal devices in hospitals and other care
settings to support patients and help reduce
social isolation.
Notes to editors:
- the Portal devices will be delivered to care homes
and other care settings across the pilot sites of Surrey
and other regions, including Manchester, Newcastle, Essex
and London from this week (commencing 6 April 2020)
- the care homes and care settings involved in the
pilot will be able to keep the devices free of charge,
and use as they see fit, following the pilot phase
- specific care settings will be selected on the basis
of their wifi connectivity and ability to run devices in
residents’ rooms or another private location
- NHSX is actively exploring connectivity options for
care homes without wifi, including the use of 4G hotspots
or data-enabled tablets
- care settings will be given advice by NHSX on device
setup, infection control and data protection, including
how to complete a factory reset before passing the device
to a new user. This will help protect the personal data
of different users and staff
