On 10 July 2023, the Care Quality Commission (“CQC”) announced via an uploaded video, that by March 2024, 80% of care providers in the UK must use digital record-keeping software. This is in accordance with the Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) policy paper titled ‘A plan for digital health and social care’ published on 29 June 2022. The DHSC’s policy paper established the March 2024 target and stated that digital transformation of the health and social care sector is the DHSC’s current top priority. This aims to bring social care up to date with other sectors that already rely heavily on digital record-keeping.
Why is this DHSC’s top priority?
This shift to digital record-keeping is expected to save time on administration and improve security for user and staff data. It will also give those receiving care a voice, as they will be able to share their needs, make choices, and express their preferences more easily. The CQC has uploaded a video to help social care providers adjust and move away from paper-based record-keeping methods. The video explains the benefits of digital record-keeping and provides further guidance on how to choose the right software.
What has been said?
Previous Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, stated:
“Around 40% of providers are still grappling entirely with paper-based records. I want all Social Care providers to adopt a digital record for Social Care.”
