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Shaping Digital Health & Social Care – Innovation Challenge

Businesses invited to share digital ideas for improved healthcare delivery in Scotland

  • New initiative using advanced connectivity to transform and improve healthcare delivery and solve current challenges in the service.
  • ‘Call’ for businesses to provide solutions to improve digital access to services, support care at home and share information safely.
  • Three shortlisted projects will receive access to a private 5G test bed and full technical and business support to develop a solution for market launch.

SMEs and technology entrepreneurs are invited to share their ideas to address challenges in the health sector, as The Scotland 5G Centre and its S5GConnect Dumfries hub launches their first innovation challenge today (date). The ‘Shaping Digital Health & Social Care’ Innovation Challenge will support three projects to improve healthcare delivery, by giving the selected companies the 5G know how to make their solution market ready.

S5GConnect is supported with this ground-breaking acceleration programme by two key challenge owners, namely Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership and Scottish Care. The Challenge Owners have identified the challenges they want to address. This ensures S5GConnect is assessing solutions that the market is keen to integrate.

The ‘Shaping Digital Health & Social Care’ Innovation Challenge invites businesses to respond to real problems and bring their solutions, enabled by 5G, to meet patient and care provider needs accurately, efficiently, conveniently, cost effectively and at scale.

Companies entering are required to highlight a solution that addresses one of the following challenges:

  • Enhance and develop digital access to health and care services across the region, particularly in rural areas.
  • Digital ideas to help support people to manage their own conditions and care for themselves safely at home.
  • Connectivity solutions that enable information to be shared with people and others involved in patients’ care safely and efficiently.

Spearheaded by S5GConnect, the Scotland 5G Centre’s series of 5G test beds and innovation hubs across Scotland, the challenge will provide access to a cutting-edge private 5G network in Dumfries, with expertise and advice to drive development within a 5G environment.

The winning companies will get access to the challenge owners’ expertise and insider knowledge throughout the accelerator programme, with support also committed post programme to bring the solution closer to market integration.

CGI, an additional challenge partner, will also be bringing its “go-to-market” and scaling expertise throughout the programme. CGI’s support will continue with network introductions and a potential showcase at the CGI Innovation Centre’s 5G lab in London. Technical support will be delivered by AWTG virtually and through direct one-to-one sessions at the testbed.

The ‘call’ is open to SMEs across Scotland and the UK who currently have a healthcare product or service in development or already on the market but requires additional digital capacity to meet a need or improve performance. Entrants also need to show they are committed to the programme and can ensure team members can attend the required sessions. There is a £1000 travel and subsistence budget available to each winning company to support these costs.

The S5GConnect innovation programme offers a comprehensive package of support for the successful companies. This includes: a 15-week development programme; access to the 5G testbed in Dumfries with one-to-one technical expertise to support technical development. In addition, companies will receive business and investment advice and introduction to potential customers and ongoing access to S5GConnect business and technical support until March 2023. The post challenge opportunities through the network of challenge owners and partners will add real value to a company.

Lara Moloney, Head of S5GConnect, said:

“Private 5G networks offer organisations a new way to deliver services, this innovation challenge focuses on how we can support independent living and care to ease the burden on the NHS and Care Providers. Collectively we are offering a real opportunity to businesses who can solve these difficult problems and that can be enhanced through advanced connectivity. This intensive programme will allow the acceleration of a business concept into a product that has the potential to transform how we care for people and change lives for the better.

“This is an ideal opportunity for businesses to access expert support to fine-tune their concept and assess it in a real environment. This will in turn lead to scaling up and commercialisation to create new skills and jobs and will make a positive and real difference to the economy.”

David Rowland, Director of Strategic Planning and Transformation, Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, added  

“We launched a comprehensive Sustainability and Modernisation Programme to address the growing pressures on local services. We recognise that adopting new and emergent digital solutions is critical to our success as it can help us provide our services efficiently and effectively.

“This Innovation Challenge offers a fantastic opportunity for our partnership to forge the new alliances necessary to explore innovative and creative solutions to some of our key challenges.”

Nicola Cooper, Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, Scottish Care

“This is a terrific opportunity to do something of real value for people who access, or work in health and social care through delivering new solutions enabled by advanced connectivity at a time when we need it most.

“We want to work with innovators seeking real world applications for their solutions in health and social care. We will help match them with care providers, to shape and evaluate their ideas as part of the accelerator process.”

The programme will be delivered in person and remotely. The live test bed used will be at the S5GConnect innovation hub, at the Crichton Centre in Dumfries. Details of the innovation challenge, including a link to the Expression of Interest form and Q&A event are available at:

Shaping Digital Health & Social Care

Timetable for applications:

  • 12th April – Challenge Launch
  • 21st April – Live Q&A Application Support Event
  • 18th May – First Stage: Expression of Interest Documentation to be submitted
  • 1st – 3rd June – Second Stage: Technical Interviews with shortlisted Companies
  • 6th June – Winning companies will be notified
  • 27th June – Companies to start.
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Barclays Digital Eagles Training Opportunities – March 2022

Barclays Digital Eagles are a network of digitally trained individuals based around the UK, who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and passion with the Care Home community.

Their Barclays Digital Eagle, Paul Martin, has agreed to deliver a series of 4 online webinars which are suitable for all Care Home staff to attend: Please pass along this information to anyone within your organisation who may wish to join us for these sessions.

How to register: please click on the date for each session below you wish to join. A separate registration is required for each delegate wishing to attend.

Digital Basics

Get to grips with the basics. Learning about different types of internet connections and how to harness the power of the internet by refining web searches to generate relevant results. Barclay’s Digital Eagles will also help you to understand email platforms and how to use them.

Digital Basics Course Dates

Thursday 9th March 15:00-16:00
Monday 21st March 15:00-16:00
Monday 28 March 15:00-16:00

Digital Safety

This session will help you build an understanding of cybercrime. Paul from Barclay’s Digital Eagles shares tips on how to identify when you are being targeted by cyber criminals, in addition to talking through fraud and scams. Paul will also share resources to help you continue to navigate the digital world safely.

Digital Safety Course Dates

Wednesday 16th March 16:00-17:00

Platforms and Communications

Barclay’s Digital Eagles will teach you how you can use technology to support those around you, by keeping them connected to friends, family members and GPs using various communication platforms. It will also help you to use platforms like Microsoft Teams to collaborate with your colleagues across the business and improve efficiency.

Platforms and Communications Course Dates

Tuesday 22nd March 16:00-17:00
Tuesday 29th March 15:30-16:30

Entertainment

How to use technology to keep the people you support engaged and stimulated. By using apps, games and other platforms, you can make sure that your residents can use technology to avoid becoming isolated and to support their wellbeing.

Entertainment Course Dates 

Tuesday 8th March 13:00-14:00
Monday 14th March 15:00-16:00

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NES Funding Opportunity – Professional Development Award in Technology Enabled Care

Following the success of last year’s funding of the Professional Development Award in Technology Enabled Care by NHS Education for Scotland, this year NHS Education for Scotland will fund a further 56 candidates from across Health, Housing and Social Care to undertake the PDA in TEC.

 

The qualification will be accessed through online distance learning in partnership with Bon Accord Support Services in Aberdeen who are an SQA Approved Delivery Centre. 

The application window opens from Monday 7 March 2022 with funding available to candidates who agree to complete the – Working with Technology Enabled Care – unit, and the – Using Digital Technology to Support People in Health, Housing and Care – unit.  NES are currently not offering funding for any of the other units.

 

During 2022/23 Bon Accord Support Services will support 3 cohorts commencing on: 

 

Cohort 7 Virtual Induction – 30 June 2022

Cohort 8 Virtual Induction – 20 October 2022

Cohort 9 Virtual Induction – 19 January 2023 

 

Candidates must be available to attend the virtual induction date allocated to them. 

 

Please see below for the application form and flyer which includes the application criteria. Further information can be found on: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/59165/digital-health-and-care/pda-in-tec

 

Application forms must be returned to [email protected] by 5pm on Monday 4 April 2022 and successful candidates will be notified by Monday 25 April 2022 which cohort and  virtual induction date they have been allocated. 

 

Any queries can be directed to: [email protected]

Download flyer
Download application form
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Data Strategy for Health & Social Care Links & Feedback Form

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for the Data Strategy Engagement Session with the Scottish Government on Wednesday 16 February. Please see below for some useful links relating to this session:

Digital Health and Care Data Strategy Working Group – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Health and Social Care Health and Social Care – Scottish Government Blog (blogs.gov.scot)

Digital Health and Care Data Strategy Working Group – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Data Dialogues | Nesta

 

For those who missed the session, we encourage you to fill out this short online form to help shape the Data Strategy for Health and Social Care:

Data Strategy for Health and Social Care – Scottish Care (office.com)

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DigitalBoost Development Grant

The DigitalBoost Development Grant has reopened! This initiative is for companies who wish to improve their digital capabilities and capacity. The grant is funded by The Scottish Government to help businesses become more competitive, productive, resilient and drive forward Scotland’s economic recovery.

This grant will be reopened for a very limited time. Be quick and apply for the grant as soon as you can.

Find out more about the grant and how to apply here

Find out more about the free support available to your business.
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TechFest Talks – The Future of Technology in the Care Sector

 TechFest Talks hosts continue to interview industry professionals from various industries and learn more about their jobs, challenges they meet at work and exciting projects they work on!

In this week’s episode, Cults Academy student Jui Patkar interviews Marcus Nisbet and our very own Frances Loughrey (Development Officer, Aberdeen City) about future workforce roles in health care and embedding technology in the social care sector. They speak about the new ‘Care Technologist’ role and how technology can be useful in delivering care.

Give it a listen here: https://techfest.org.uk/techfest-talks/other

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DigiFest – Scotland’s Annual Digital Health, Housing & Care Conference

The Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care Directorate, working with our partners, are pleased to share with you the programme for Scotland’s annual digital health, housing and care conference, DigiFest.

DigiFest is aimed at all those who are working to deliver digitally enabled services in health, housing and care.

To register for DigiFest which takes place on 1- 2 December 2021, please visit www.digifest2021.com

Once you have registered, you will receive an access link to the virtual event platform. On the virtual event platform, you can view and add programme sessions to your personalised agenda, view the ePosters and browse the resources and visit the DigiFest exhibitors.

If you have already registered for DigiFest on 1-2 December, you will have received an email from [email protected]

You can go ahead and access the virtual event platform and sign in using your email address and password via the ‘Enter Event’ button in that email.

If you have not received it, please contact [email protected]

DigiFest21 is a virtual programme and it is free to participate.

Register and join us for this year’s DigiFest to discover how digital solutions in Scotland, the wider UK and internationally, have grown and how they can support improved access for citizens, support service renewal and redesign.

#DigiFest2021  #DigiCare4Scot

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Digital Health & Care Strategy – 27 October

Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Strategy – gov.scot (www.gov.scot) has been published.

The strategy sets out how we will work together to improve the care and wellbeing of people in Scotland by making best use of digital technologies in the design and delivery of services, in a way, place and time that works best for them.  It builds upon the digital successes which were accelerated as a result of Covid-19, such as Near Me video consulting; greater digital capability in care homes; and the increase in remote monitoring and self-management of conditions from home.

27.10.21-SG-enabling-connecting-empowering-care-digital-age
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Exploring the application of Human Rights Principles in Digital Health and Social Care

Scottish Care is delighted to work in partnership with The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and VOX (Voices Of eXperience) to support the development of rights-based digital health and social care policy and practice across Scotland. This includes the exploration of six principles for a human rights based approach to digital health and social care.

We want to engage with people who access services and people who provide support to refine the principles and collectively develop practice-based scenarios that illustrate their application in health and social care. We are hosting three events to gather people’s views and experiences on the application of human rights-based approaches in digital health and social care.

These workshops will be held online on the following dates:

We want to encourage a wide range of views and to ensure participation from people who may not be able to attend the workshops online. If you would be able support an engagement session offline, an engagement pack will be available. Participants will be able to return these electronically or by post at no cost to them.

To find out more, please email [email protected].

* If you cannot attend the first or second event for any reason, you are welcome to attend the event on 26 July.

Human Rights Principles for Digital Health and Social Care

The six principles build on the Human Rights Charter for Technology and Digital in Social Care launched by Scottish Care in September 2019 and are intended to be embedded into digital health and care developments at all levels.

  • People at the centre. Any digital experience needs to be flexible around individual needs, preferences and choice.
  • Human rights foundations. All digital services need to respect and protect human rights, whilst also seeking to enhance and fulfil individuals’ ability to exercise their rights.
  • Digital as ongoing choice. ‘Digital first’ approaches can risk alienating or disadvantaging those who are currently excluded from accessing digital services. Instead, there should be ‘digital choice’. People should have equal access to services on equal terms, regardless of their circumstances. Moreover, we need to recognise that circumstances change, and that people might want to switch between digital and analogue service provision seamlessly, in a way that suits them.
  • Digital where it is best suited. Digital service provision lends itself better to some outcomes and processes (i.e. updating preferences online, transactional services) than others (i.e. tailored support, relational services). We need to be aware of this and build digital capacity where it is most impactful and appropriate, whilst also keeping in mind that digital does not resolve everything and should not replace face to face services.
  • Digital inclusion, not just widening access. For digital to achieve its potential of delivering better outcomes for people, it needs to be truly inclusive of all members of society, including those most at risk of exclusion or harm. While widening access initiatives are a welcome step forward, digital exclusion needs to be tackled at all levels in the community through person-centred rather than system-available responses. Digital skills, confidence and literacy need to be at the heart of digital inclusion activities going forward.
  • Personal ownership of digital data. The move to digital services will come with increased amounts of digital personal data being created, shared and used across systems. In line with Data Protection regulations, we believe that citizens should have ownership over their personal information and be in control with regards to its use.
Human-rights-principles-for-digital-health-and-social-care_April-2021
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