Social Services Minister praises Powys for pioneering electronic health and care system

Social Services Minister Rebecca Evans has praised Powys’s health and social care services for becoming the first area in Wales to jointly implement a new IT system that helps health and social care professionals work together to provide care closer to people’s homes.

The Welsh Community Care Information System (WCCIS) gives community nurses, mental health teams, social workers and therapists the digital tools they need to work better together, whilst providing the highest possible levels of care. It allows access to relevant information on the care provided to a range of health and social care professionals, to show where a patient is with their treatment.

When fully implemented across Wales, WCCIS will help break down barriers caused by different organisations using different IT systems, by securely storing important information covering a range of activities such as community nursing, health and social care visits, mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse, complex care needs and social care therapy.

The Minister saw the system in action during a visit to Llandrindod Wells.

Social Services Minister, Rebecca Evans (pictured) said: “I was really pleased to see the Welsh Community Care Information System in action here in Powys. By being the first area to “go live” with the new system in both the local authority and health board, Powys is truly pioneering this exciting new system.

“The system represents genuine integration between our health and social care services. It is very important that we realise the potential benefits offered by this new system.  For front-line practitioners, it allows them to provide more consistent, co-ordinated care and support for individuals in their own communities, while for people receiving that care, it ensures they receive high quality care in or as close to their home as possible.”

Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive of Powys Teaching Health Board and Interim Strategic Director of People at Powys County Council said: “I am very proud of the success of the team in Powys in delivering the first integrated “go live” of the Welsh Community Care Information System in Wales.

“For the first time, members of the integrated teams in our first phase implementers can access client records shared across Health and Care.

“For staff, this will increasingly offer a single point of access to information to support them to deliver joined up health and care. It will reduce duplication and save time that can be invested into frontline care.

“For service users and carers this will reduce frustration & duplication, and improve consistency and continuity of care.”

The Welsh Government provided £6.7m in capital funding for the initial set up costs for the WCCIS and has made a further £4m available to support its implementation via the Integrated Care Fund.