NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has unveiled plans to implement a digital platform to facilitate the transition from children and young people’s to adult care.
In July 2024, a three-year contract was signed with IEG4 to deliver the continuing healthcare (CHC) solution, with the possibility of a one-year extension. This CHC assessment process determines the eligibility of individuals with significant ongoing health needs for NHS CHC care and support.
The platform will streamline the All Age Continuing Care (AACC) process, focusing on the transition from children’s and young people’s CHC to adult CHC, thereby assessing eligibility for funding through evaluation.
Expected to launch in October 2024, the platform aims to enhance patient experience, improve clinical efficiency, and foster better health outcomes. It will address the challenges NHS Somerset faced with manual input and data entry issues on the current system.
The new system will provide staff, patients, and referral forms with digitized and automated access. Lynette Emsley, associate director of CHC and care sector services, emphasized the benefits of the digital platform in enhancing accessibility and involvement in the CHC assessment process.
IEG4’s CHC platform will offer a user portal for real-time updates, administrative tools, and complete visibility of the process. This integrated system streamlines workflows, manages assessments and referrals, and provides case management for CHC-eligible patients.
Stephen Ferry, CEO of IEG4, expressed excitement about partnering with NHS Somerset to overcome their challenges with the comprehensive platform. In a separate announcement, NHS Somerset ICB awarded a contract to Black Pear Software Ltd for the Somerset Integrated Digital e-Record+ (SIDeR+) technology.
