Matt Hancock promises 11,000 free iPads to care homes to 'reduce unnecessary visits'

Free iPads will be given to thousands of care homes, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has promised to stop the spread of COVID-19 by ‘reducing unnecessary visits’.

Up to 11,000 iPad tablets will be distributed to care homes across England to reduce the risk of infection from people going into homes as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Care homes will be ‘eligible’ for one or two free iPads, depending on the number of devices they currently have to the number of beds. Priority will be given to care homes that don’t have enough modern devices or struggle with their internet connection.

'The gateway for so many residents to connect'

Matt Hancock said: “With coronavirus cases rising the need for infection control measures and social distancing is more important than ever for those living and working in care homes.

“However I know how challenging the current situation is staff, residents and families, particularly when loved ones can’t visit.

“These tablets will be the gateway for so many residents to connect with loved ones, and allow staff to quickly access digital NHS services and information, to help stop Covid-19 outbreaks in their tracks.”

The government says Apple’s iPads were selected because ‘they are the only tablet device that will enable care home staff to access their residents' summary care records’.

The iPads are intended to help care homes connect residents with their loved ones remotely and have video consultations with medical professionals. The tablets will also mean care home staff can reorder residents’ medication and access healthcare information in residents’ GP records.

The £7.5m deal includes distribution, a 12-month support offer, data enabled SIM cards for care homes that need them and technology pre-installed on the devices

Care minister: I've heard about 'the pain of not being able to visit'

Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “We’ve set out our plan to make sure social care has what it needs throughout winter to keep coronavirus at bay and provide the care so many rely on. But we know one of the hardest things during the pandemic has been the restrictions on visiting, keeping families away from their loved ones.

“I have heard from many people about the pain of not being able to visit, not being able to hug or even hold the hand of their husband or wife, father or mother. I know iPads won’t solve this problem and connecting via a device doesn’t work for everyone, but it will help some families stay in touch".

The rollout of the iPads will come with new government guidance for care home staff to order regular medications for care home residents online, which would reduce the administrative burden on general practice and pharmacy.

The NHS is also publishing guidance to help care staff access and manage aspects of their residents' GP online records, once given permission by the local practice.

Matt Hancock’s announcement follows discounted broadband deals being offered to care providers to improve their connectivity.

The government’s social care winter plan outlines infection prevention and control measures to enable visits to continue safely but areas listed as an ‘area of intervention’ must immediately restrict visiting to exceptional circumstances only - such as for the end of someone’s life.

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “Communicating with families and with other professionals is vital during this difficult period and we welcome the distribution of iPads, which should enable care providers to have better access to NHS support, and also enable people to keep in contact with their relatives.”

To apply, care homes can complete an order form here before the 23 October deadline

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