Two BU academics visited Parliament to share their expertise on the future of health and social care in the UK.
The academics, Professor Lee-Ann Fenge and Professor Mel Hughes both from the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, were invited to give their expertise at separate events.
Professor Lee-Ann Fenge, a Professor of Social Care, gave evidence as a part of the ATech Skills for Social Care Commission, looking at the future technology that could support people to live in their own homes and communities for longer, and the digital and technological skills required by a workforce to deliver that care.
The Commission looked at the example of Kent and Medway FE Colleges, teaching digital skills to social care students to support a cultural transformation in the workforce, thinking differently about care provision through technology.
The event was a follow up to the Smarter Homes for Independent Living report, which Professor Fenge also took part in, exploring how disabled and older people can use technology themselves to achieve more choice and control in their own care.
The aim of the Commission is to look at digital and technological solutions to keep people independent in their own homes for longer.
Professor Fenge was joined in Parliament by Professor Mel Hughes, who spoke on a panel at the All-Party-Health-Group Parliamentary roundtable on shifting care from hospitals to communities. The event looked at how to realise the Labour Party’s vision to build an NHS fit for the future by looking at care in the community.
Professor Hughes sat on a panel alongside experts from the Department of Health & Social Care, Nuffield Health and the Royal College of Physicians, among others, with the panel chaired by Dr Simon Opher, MP for Stroud.
The discussion looked at how different health and care sectors would need to come together, and how any solutions need to put the public at the centre, while trying to remove red tape and the need for ‘care navigators’ to help the public navigate very difficult and bureaucratic processes.
Professor Mel Hughes, Professor of Social Work, spoke about the need to involve seldom heard voices in shaping policy, and making sure that all voices were at the table in creating the community care solutions required – for a bottom up, rather than top down, approach to building community care to ensure equality of access and opportunity.
Among the attendees were Peter Prinsley MP, Jim Dickson MP and former Health Secretary and member of the House of Lords, Dame Therese Coffey.
For more information about BU’s public affairs activity, visit: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/news-events/news/public-affairs-policy-impact
