Public affairs and communications management

The government’s deficit cutting programme continues to have reverberations even across those areas that have ostensibly seen increased or protected funding. Those services that rely on longer term thinking are having to compete even harder to ensure they are not squeezed in the need to make short term savings. Evidence of this has emerged in this year’s government report into research and support projects for the elderly and disabled. This is known as assistive technology, and may range from remote monitoring of health indicators to motion sensors and automatic medication reminders.

 The report is important for those with an interest in social care and learning disability issues, as it summaries the work the government is undertaking across a range of areas, from research opportunities to integrated care pilots. The most recent report highlights pressures of an aging population and increased demand for services, notably those related to dementia. The report also asserts the continued pressure on services caused by tightened funding settlements. As such, the government has provided £648 million for primary care trusts to provide research pilots, better telecare, and better integrated services. Despite this attention and extra funding, the government clearly isn’t confident that this money is being spent as it should be. The Department of Health is currently asking local authorities for updates on their progress in developing these projects, asking how and if this money has been spent, and presumably, if not, then why not.

 While investment in this technology can reduce the burden on crisis services and lead to reduced hospital admissions, it may be the case that a concerted effort is needed both by central government, and all those with an interest in health services, to ensure that local decision makers spend this money effectively, and do not lose focus on the long term benefits of greater research and innovation in assistive technology.