Care Homes: ICT

(asked on 19th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2020 to Question 43872, what estimate he has made of the number of portals that would be required to roll out the pilot to enable all care home residents to connect with loved ones during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 3rd June 2020

Initial findings from the Facebook Portal pilot suggest having access to just one Portal device in a care home can help residents to connect with loved ones during the COVID-19 outbreak. Although the pilot is ongoing and Portals are still being deployed, based on current numbers just over 70% of the devices will be in care homes. As there are approximately 15,500 care homes in England according to Care Quality Commission data, it is estimated up to 14,000 Portals or similar devices may be required to scale the pilot to all care homes nationally. The Facebook Portal is one of a number of solutions NHSX is looking at to help to reduce isolation and support video and remote care during COVID-19.

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