By Bethany Hemsley
The Government has announced it will provide care homes with up to 11,000 free iPad tablets in a bid to keep residents connected with their relatives this winter.
The tech will reduce the risk of infection by limiting the number of people entering a care home while still allowing residents to interact with their friends and family.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “These tablets will be the gateway for so many residents to connect with loved ones, and allow staff to quickly access digital NHS services and information, to help stop Covid-19 outbreaks in their tracks.”
The iPads will allow care homes to:
- Connect residents with loved ones remotely
- Hold video consultations with medical professionals, and easily organise face to face appointments.
- Enable care home staff to reorder medications on behalf of their residents and update information in their GP records
- Enable care home staff to reorder medications on behalf of their residents and to access info in their GP records.
- Use NHSmail
- Use any other applications and tools that they feel support the care of their residents
Each iPad will be ready to use and will include a 12-month support package and data-enabled SIM card for care homes with limited Wi-Fi.
Care homes are eligible for one to two iPads based on the number of devices they currently have to the number of beds.
Care homes can apply for iPads here. The deadline for applying is October 23 2020.
michelle bhangal
hi , that is a great that care homes will be provided , i am very interested in receiving one for the care home that i am the manager