Following a thorough judging process, the ‘Hertfordshire and west Essex Shared Care Record’ was shortlisted in the category ‘Connecting Health and Social Care Through Digital’.
The Shared Care Record allows frontline health and care staff to view a secure summary of information from the different services involved in an individual’s care. This means professionals can work together in a more joined-up way with access to the information they need at the right time. For example, medical staff treating patients brought into A&E can review their recent treatment history, and doctors preparing to discharge patients from hospital can find out what social care they usually receive at home, so that the right support can be arranged.
The Hertfordshire and west Essex solution stood out amongst other schemes entered for the awards because the programme was able to successfully connect information from health and care organisations spanning ten health and care systems in just 18 months – with the potential to benefit millions of patients. Key to achieving this has been an approach already in place, called ‘My Care Record’, through which health and social care organisations in the East of England are working together to ensure that information is joined up to improve care.
Dr Jane Halpin, Chief Executive Officer of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, said:
“It is easier it is to understand a patients’ needs and treat them quickly, effectively, and with the right support services if you have access to relevant information about that patient. I’m thrilled that this work is receiving recognition from the HSJ because it is a fantastic example of collaboration across health and social care for the benefit of the people we collectively serve.
“Data saves lives, and with access to the right information, our staff are empowered to work more effectively. Health and care professionals spend less time requesting or waiting for information, and patients and service users have a better experience with fewer delays and less repetition. The success of the Shared Care Record, which draws together information from GP records, hospital visits and treatments, social care support and community health services, is the result of a great deal of partnership working from the many different organisations which care for the health and wellbeing of our population.”
HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, adds; “It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System for being shortlisted in the category of Connecting Health and Social Care through Digital.
“We can’t wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony in June, celebrating their impressive achievements and jointly acknowledging our values of sharing best practice, improving patient outcomes and continuously driving for better service.”
The selected winners will be announced on 6 June 2024. The full list of nominees for the 2024 HSJ Digital Awards can be found at: https://digitalawards.hsj.co.uk/
More information about the Shared Care Record is available on the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System website.