Canary Care, a business providing innovative home care solutions to the elderly and disabled, is lending support to the NHS’ “Test Bed” initiative, which was announced by NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last Friday.
The NHS will soon launch the first wave of test beds to frontline health and care workers in seven areas, as part of a wider initiative to embrace innovation in order to improve patient care. Five of these Test Beds will be “NHS Test Beds” and include the Care City Health and Care Test Bed, and the Long Term Conditions Early Intervention Programme. The other two are Internet of Things (IoT) Test Beds, and will trial a Diabetes Digital Coach, and Technology Integrated Health Management.
Canary Care will be joining the Care City Health and Care Test Bed, which will promote healthy ageing across a one million-strong population in North East London. The partnership will test and evaluate combinations of innovative technologies that have the potential to help patients manage their own health conditions whilst remaining as independent as possible. Their carers will also receive the information and connections they need in order to coordinate care through this initiative.
Older patients and people with long-term conditions, including those with mental health problems, will be among the first to benefit from this initiative, which is seen as a major drive to modernise how the NHS delivers care.
Canary Care helps older vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes, by using innovative, discreet technology to monitor daily activity and alert relatives or carers to any sudden change. The technology not only gives relatives peace of mind, but also guides them on any decisions relating to future care.
Canary uses sensors that monitor movement, door activity and temperature, without the use of cameras, and alerts next of kin to any sudden changes by text. Families can set up their own guidelines and reminders, so the system can be properly tailored to the habits of each individual.
Commenting on the Test Bed partnership, Stuart Sheehy, Managing Director of Canary Care, said:
“We are delighted to be a part of this ground-breaking initiative. Technologies like Canary allow families to make better, more informed decisions on the care of an older person and their needs and, ultimately, help that person remain at home for longer.”
Helen Oliver, Interim Managing Director at Care City, said:
“We are really excited to be working with Canary as one of our test bed innovators. We believe that the Canary product has the potential to really boost carer resilience and help to reassure them that their family member is safe and well, even when they can’t be with them in person.”
Mercia Fund Management, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercia Technologies, announced that it would be committing a further £400,000 to support Canary Care in July 2015. To read the full story, click here.
For more information on the NHS’ Test Bed initiative, please click here. To find out more about Canary Care’s product, visit their website.