Virtual Care for Vulnerable People

Essex County Council rolls out scheme to provide virtual care and wellbeing support to vulnerable people during the coronavirus pandemic.

06:33 21 May 2020

Essex County Councils are providing virtual care and wellbeing support to vulnerable people in the hopes of fighting depression due to isolation and social distancing protocols. 

 

Working together with healthcare consultancy RETHINK Partners and care-tech firm Alcove, the council is set to deliver 2,000 video care phones to people in Essex, allowing them to make video calls to pre-identified services including paid care, via a locked down tablet and a web portal. Support will also be provided for recipients who require set-up assistance. 

 

Cllr Spence from Essex County Council said: "We are delighted to be leading this existing project. This is a limited offer that we are providing for 2,000 of our most vulnerable service users and those who can get the most benefit. It not only will provide people with care and support calls but help them with loneliness and to connect more easily with the support networks in their community.

 

"Over the coming weeks, we will be capturing some of the good news stories from users which help us shape our longer term care technology strategy." 

 

Clare Morries, chief executive of RETHINK Partners said: "During the coronavirus outbreak, we are using the device to connect people to their regular services allowing much of this to be provided remotely and without contact. 

 

"This includes paid care, supported discharge form hospital, scheduled check-ins and prompts for people with mental health issues and contact for people with learning disabilities, who may be missing out on regular visits to day centres. We are also linking in with Essex Welfare Service to ensure daily living needs are met such as shopping and prescription collection for those who are shielding or self-isolating."