Care Workers to Receive Training for Routine Health Checks in Major Reform
The UK Government is introducing measures to empower care workers with new training to perform routine health checks, including monitoring blood pressure, managing diabetes with insulin administration, redressing wounds, adjusting catheters, and offering mental health support. These steps aim to enhance access to routine care and alleviate the growing backlog within the NHS.
Under the new plan, care workers will be authorised to deliver specific health interventions, ensuring faster access to care and improving patient experiences. Health Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the benefits of these changes, stating they would “free up hospital beds” and reduce the need for patients to repeat their medical histories to multiple healthcare professionals.
National Standards and Digital Integration
As part of the reforms, the government will establish national standards and guidelines to help care providers invest in advanced technologies that support patients effectively. The initiative forms a key component of broader adult social care reforms and plans to strengthen integration between the NHS and the social care sector.
One significant aspect of the strategy involves the development of a unified digital platform to facilitate seamless data sharing between social care, GPs, and hospital staff. The aim is for all care providers to be fully digitised by 2029, granting care workers real-time access to comprehensive medical records.
Revolutionising Care with Technology
Health Secretary Streeting described the initiative as transformative:
“There is a revolution taking place in health and care technology, and this government is reforming social care so disabled and older people benefit from the latest cutting-edge tech. Patients won’t need to repeat themselves, staff will be equipped to deliver the best possible care, and hospital beds will be freed up to tackle other pressing needs.”
Dr. Vin Diwakar, National Director of Transformation at NHS England, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the benefits of digital integration:
“Research shows that digitising social care and linking up records helps people live independently for longer, enables families to be more involved in caregiving, and frees staff from administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on providing care.”
These reforms are expected to modernise the social care sector, fostering better communication across healthcare systems while improving patient outcomes. By equipping care workers with the skills and tools to perform routine health tasks, the government aims to ensure that social care remains a cornerstone of community well-being.
These initiatives are designed to integrate services, reduce pressures on the NHS, and deliver a more responsive and patient-centred care system.
