Public Sector Roundup: £8 million for Scot telecare

Scots invest £8 million in health telecare

The Scottish Government is investing another £8 million into telecare services over the next two years to help care for people in their own homes. So far, the National Telecare Programme has saved 1,800 hospital beds and 6,900 care home beds - at a cost efficiency of nearly £3 million.

This new funding will go to Housing Demonstrator pilots, which include fall monitors and motion sensors.

The minister for public health Shona Robison said: "These services will help support people to live independently, while providing peace of mind that help is at hand... I am looking forward to seeing the results of faster innovation and a new generation of interactive care services which promise far reaching improvements to the quality of people's lives."

NHS IT programme to deliver a billion in savings

The Department of Health said the £12 billion NHS IT project, the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), will deliver better care as well as £1.4 billion in savings by 2014.

In a benefits statement published in response to a request from the National Audit Office, the DoH also claimed the NPfIT has delivered savings of £208 million through the new network, the use of digital imaging, and savings on licensing.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "Our use of computer technology in the NHS is becoming the envy of the world. It is saving lives, saving time and saving money. If you talk to health and IT experts anywhere in the world they point to Britain as example of computer technology being used successfully to improve health services to the public."

Bexley battles racism, bullying with web

The London Borough of Bexley is using a new web-based programme to take on racism and bullying in schools.

The anti-bullying software from Vantage Technologies records and monitors harassment incidents, letting staff track patterns to help prevent trouble.

Simon Windle, Bexley's Cabinet Member for Schools, Adult Education and Youth Services, said: "All of our youngsters and staff in schools and youth centres have a right and expectation to be free of harassment and bullying wherever they may be. Bexley Council recognises this right and welcomes Sentinel's new IT solution that may help further achieve that objective. I am sure the positive results will be seen in the months and years to come."

The system is being piloted at two secondary schools and two primary schools, and will be rolled out to another 73 this summer.

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