Elderly care and digital health in Scotland

January 11, 2023

dreamstime_xxl_191706402 — © Chernetskaya

The priorities of Scottish Government Health Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP, especially elderly care and digital health, are underlined here by Open Access Government

Humza Yousaf MSP became Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in May 2021. He has many responsibilities, including NHS primary care, community care and acute services, eHealth, MyNHS Digital, person-centred care and mobile healthcare. ⁽¹⁾ This article will look at elderly care and digital health.

Health and social care for older people

Improving health and social care for older people is one of Humza Yousaf MSP’s priorities. The Health Secretary explains this further, including his views on the important role of older people in society: “I want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow old, with older people living full and rewarding lives, contributing to society and actively involved their health and social care.

“Older people are a vital part of ensuring Scotland’s future success – essential to our communities, our economy, our public services and to society as a whole. (2)

Hospital at Home services sets out to reduce hospital admissions for elderly patients by giving them treatments in the familiarity and comfort of their homes. Did you know that the service means treatments requiring hospital admissions, such as oxygen supply or an intravenous drip, can be provided at home, under the care of a consultant? Did you know that those enjoying the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays for up to six months after acute illness? For older patients, it means no loss of independence.

In addition, the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Treatment scheme and Respiratory Community Response Teams offer over 600 virtual beds to treat patients for conditions that would typically need hospitalisation, an increase of more than a third from 440 virtual beds at the start of January 2022. Humza Yousaf MSP commented that Hospital at Home is just one way the Scottish Government provides more community care.

“We know that frail patients tend to occupy hospital beds for a longer period of time and that is why we are expanding the scheme. In reducing the number of prolonged hospital stays, we will free up more hospital beds.

“With additional funding, all health boards can apply for money to either develop or expand their services with the aim of doubling the capacity of Hospital at Home by the end of the this year,” he went on to say. ⁽³⁾

In September 2022, elderly care home residents were among the first to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the start of the winter vaccine programme. Mr Yousaf said: “Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and the NHS from both COVID-19 and flu viruses.” ⁽⁴⁾

In December 2021, visitors to adult care homes and hospitals were asked to take a lateral flow test before every visit under the then guidelines. At the time, the Health Secretary recognised the Omicron variant spreading, in addition to existing infection prevention and control precautions.

“The additional protective measures for adult care homes aim to balance the current Covid-19 risk and the need to keep people safe in line with clinical advice provided about the risks of Omicron variant of COVID-19,” he said. ⁽⁵⁾

Elderly care and digital health strategy

In November 2021, Scottish Government Health Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP welcomed the refreshed Digital health and care strategy. “Digital technology is an essential component of fit-for-purpose health and care services in a modern, dynamic Scotland,” he said.

Essentially, the refreshed strategy lays out work to improve the well-being and care of Scotland’s inhabitants by making the most of digital technologies in delivering and designing health services. Humza Yousaf MSP explains that organisations throughout Scotland have employed digital technologies to respond to COVID-19 and keep essential health and care services going under tremendous pressure and speed. “Continued innovation will be supported by our refreshed strategy, ensuring Scotland remains well-placed to develop, design and adopt new technologies,” the Health Secretary went
on to say.

In the past, how the system used technology within the health and social care sector was underscored, in contrast to how individuals use technology. The refreshed strategy, therefore, puts people first and is mindful of the impact on our planet. “Many digital technologies can help us address the climate emergency, from smart sensors in the home through to greater use of remote technology that reduces travel, and it is imperative that health & care plays its part,” Humza Yousaf MSP explained. ⁽⁶⁾

We know that innovative health technology is certainly assisting patients, as evidenced by the recent announcement about a new procedure which speeds up cancer diagnosis. We discover that the cytosponge diagnostic service enables patient cancer checks to be accessed closer to home. The Health Secretary explains more.

“The cytosponge is an excellent example of an innovative technology that allows people to access services quicker, and closer to home. It is helping to deliver better outcomes for patients, while also easing pressures at our hospitals. ⁽⁷⁾

Innovative technology for patients

Recently, a video consultation scheme for patients rolled out to community hubs (libraries, community and health and care facilities plus homes). The platform is used for approximately 40,000 consultations per month, easing pressure on the health service and saving time and money to travel to appointments.

Near Me consultations include hospital outpatient appointments, GPs, care homes, and mental health support. Patients should be offered the option of a Near Me appointment, if appropriate, by the hospital, GP practice or other services, including details of a website address for its video clinic.

Humza Yousaf MSP applauded the innovative use of technology, saying: “Face to face appointments will always be there for people who need them, but Near Me has many benefits to patients, including saving time and money. It is valuable in giving them options on accessing healthcare in a way that is easy and comfortable for them.

“It allows multiple family members to join consultations and saves patients having to take time off work or organise childcare. “The platform has also reduced the need for travel, saving an estimated 57 million miles of travel since January 2020. That is so important at this time when we are looking at fuel costs and the impact on the environment.” ⁽⁸⁾

Healthcare and AI

In Scotland’s AI Strategy. Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Chair of Scotland’s AI Strategy Steering Committee said that AI is helping to save lives in healthcare in her introduction to the Strategy.

Later in the Strategy, we hear that healthcare is the fastest-growing global market for AI: “With our existing strengths and global trade links Scotland is well placed to become a ‘go to’ location for the sector, creating new jobs and transforming health and social care delivery”.

We also learn that AI is used to improve accuracy and efficiency in breast screening as part of the North East Scotland Breast Screening Programme. Looking ahead, experts want to see what scope AI has to improve the existing high standards of breast screening programmes to detect cancers and turn around results quicker. ⁽⁹⁾

Increasing diagnostic capacity

This analysis of AI above complements our earlier discussion about the crucial role of innovative technology in benefiting patient care in Scotland, which no doubt includes the elderly.

It’s interesting to note what Humza Yousaf MSP recently said in Parliament concerning the National Health Service Recovery Plan (Diagnostics for Thrombosis), including innovation as part of the NHS recovery plan. We are told that the recovery of NHS services should consist of increasing diagnostic capacity, such as that for thrombosis and similar vein and artery clotting conditions.

Let’s leave the last word to Humza Yousaf, MSP, who commented in the UK Parliament about increasing diagnostic capacity, which includes a health technology angle.

“Our specialist diagnostic services are split between imaging services, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans. To support delivery towards increasing capacity by 78,000 this year, we have secured seven mobile MRI scanners and five mobile CT scanners across Scotland, which is helping to reduce waits.” ⁽¹⁰⁾