An adult social care programme in the West Midlands which uses digital technologies to help citizens live in their own homes for longer across has been extended.
Speaking at TechUK event on 10 March 2025, Peter Kyle, science secretary, said that the 5G Innovation Regions (5GIR) Health and Care programme will be scaled regionally and nationally.
As well as expanding technology enabled care (TEC) to more local authorities and strengthening collaboration with NHS integrated care boards (ICBs), this will enable the development of a comprehensive business case, procurement framework and culture change programme to support and drive long-term transformation.
Andrew Wolverson, director of adult social care at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “It is an exciting time for social care in the region.
“We are just getting started with technology enabled care solutions and are already seeing positive impacts on culture change and our residents’ well-being.
“We’re looking forward to what is next.”
The 5GIR Health and Care programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered in the West Midlands by WM5G, in partnership with the adult social care teams at Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry city councils.
WM5G’s focus is to demonstrate how advanced wireless networks and IoT solutions can transform productivity, create skilled jobs, and improve health and wellbeing.
Robert Franks, managing director at WM5G, said: “The 5GIR programme is transforming the way we deliver adult social care across the region, making the most of technologies – such as sensors, wearable monitors and computer tablets – to create personalised care plans for vulnerable residents.
“Whether we are helping younger adults to live more active, independent lives or supporting our elderly and frail citizens to remain safely in their own homes for longer, the positive impacts of this ‘digital-first’ approach are significant: Helping vulnerable residents live more fulfilling lives; reducing preventable hospital admissions and supporting local councils to balance rising demand for services with ever-tighter social care budgets.”
In January 2025 Peter Skinner, director of the NHS England Transformation Directorate, confirmed that the digitising social care programme target for 80% of care providers to have a digital social care record in place by March 2025 is on track.
Skinner described the target as “only the beginning”, and outlined plans for the programme focused on setting new standards for the use of technology in care and joining up health and care services.
