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West Wales readies for analogue switch off

28/03/23

Gary Flood Correspondent

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A local authority trading company owned by Carmarthenshire County Council called Llesiant Delta Wellbeing has just signed a five-year agreement with CGI

Set up in 2018 and aimed at improving health and social care outcomes in West Wales, Llanelli-headquartered Llesiant Delta Wellbeing uses technology to provide a range of solutions in the health and social care sector to support older and vulnerable people to live independently in their homes for longer. 

The first priority of the CGI partnership will be on telecare services in preparation for the upcoming 2025 PSTN switch-off of all non-digital telephony.

Delta Wellbeing promotes health and care collaboration between local authorities, health boards and community partners, and has become recognised as a Welsh leader in Technology Enabled Care (TEC).

Its services are partly based on the Carmarthenshire County Council’s old Careline service, which had been in operation for over 30 years, and include things packages including a wellbeing assessment, pro-active wellbeing calls, digital support, help to re-engage with the community and access to a 24/7 community response service. 

With its new partner, Delta Wellbeing will now move to provide a wide set of new digital care services.

These are expected to include offering users 24/7 monitoring via alarms, sensors and wearable devices to enable the remote supervision of their health conditions, with a view to help patients retain and improve independence in the home. 

Moving Home First onward

Another ambition is that through “co-investment in the development of innovative and cutting-edge digital services,” CGI and Delta Wellbeing could transform how health and care is provided to people through the concept of ‘Home First.’

This is an approach – being developed in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board and Carmarthenshire County Council – that supports patients to return home from hospital by providing care support for a short period of time until reablement or long-term providers can be found. 

In its first 12 weeks of operation, the service helped discharge 179 people home from hospital, and the project won two 2022 NHS Wales Awards for Delivering Person-Centred Services and a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Transforming Health and Care.

Now, all Home First partners hope improved use of data will empower the workforce, create visibility and transparency, and over time provide a new single view of the patient. 

This, they claim, will enable “whole system thinking to become a reality,” where the whole support team in the NHS and care services, as well as family, will be able to see what is happening to a user in their home at any time.  

Commenting on the tie-up, Samantha Watkins, Managing Director, Delta Wellbeing said, “Our vision of supporting people to live independently and to enable individuals to help themselves is at the centre of our partnership with CGI. 

She also stated that both sides share values and ethics and are equally committed to supporting better outcomes for members of the community who most need help.

Added Donna Kelly, CGI Senior Vice President, South and Midlands, “We are delighted that Delta Wellbeing has chosen us to partner with them on this forward-thinking and exciting initiative. 

“We are looking forward to working with its team to support the transition from analogue to digital health and care services in the home, as well develop new skills and jobs for the region and establish Wales as the national pathfinder in truly integrated health and care at home services.”  

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