Overview

The digital health service Immedicare has successfully assisted thousands of care home residents in Liverpool in avoiding unnecessary hospital visits by providing immediate access to clinical advice.

Key Achievements

• In 2024, Immedicare conducted 13,000 consultations, with approximately 90% of residents remaining in their care homes.
• The service operates 24/7, connecting care home staff with clinicians from Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, facilitating on-site decision-making.

Partnership and Impact

In collaboration with the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB), Immedicare aims to alleviate pressure on frontline healthcare resources.

Dr. Fiona Ogden-Forde, a GP and clinical lead, emphasized the system’s role in enhancing care delivery:

“This system has changed how we provide care to residents, enabling quick, informed decisions that reduce unnecessary ambulance calls and hospital admissions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.”

Service Expansion

Initially trialed in 2017 across 37 care homes, Immedicare has since expanded to support all Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered care homes in the region, including those for older adults and individuals with learning disabilities.

Collaboration with Local Partners

The service collaborates with various local health and care partners, including:

• Primary and community care providers
• North West Ambulance Service
• Out-of-hours teams at PC24

This collaboration addresses various health concerns, including falls, wound care, medication safety, end-of-life care, and nutrition.

Future Directions

According to Rachel Binks, nurse consultant and clinical lead at Immedicare, the partnership with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has fostered a trusted relationship that enhances patient care pathways and reduces the burden on emergency services.

Jane Fradley, delivery lead for Delivery Ageing Well in Liverpool Place, noted:

“Through collaboration, we are creating a more efficient and compassionate care system for Liverpool’s care home residents, showcasing how digital solutions can enhance the health system’s responsiveness.”

Additional Initiatives

In a related development, in October 2024, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust partnered with housing association Prima Group to integrate social care housing data into NHS records, aiming to link housing conditions to health outcomes and improve support services for tenants.