Digital care model could save NHS over £360m annually, whitepaper shows

A digitally-enabled model of care in care homes could improve outcomes, reduce hospital admissions, and save the NHS more than £360m annually, new research reveals.

© Feebris

© Feebris

A white paper produced by Candesic, Care City, Feebris and Kent County Council lays out a blueprint for integrating technology, proactive care, and multi-disciplinary collaboration into everyday care delivery.

The model empowers care staff with the training and tools to detect and respond to health risks early, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and improving quality of life for residents.

 

The white paper, based on a 12-month pilot involving 24 care homes in Kent and Medway using the Feebris digital health platform, shows:

  • 20% reduction in hospital admissions
  • Over 50% reduction in above-average ambulance callouts
  • 530,000 in NHS savings per 1,000 residents annually
  • 5.2X return on investment
  • 8x fewer care homes experiencing high volatility in care needs.

The evaluation highlights that 75% of participating care homes adopted proactive health workflows, improving stability, supporting workforce development, and ultimately keeping residents healthier for longer.

Matt Skinner, chief executive of Care City, said: ‘This report is proof that social care can and must play a bigger role in the future of our health system. By empowering care staff with the right tools, training and trust, we can improve outcomes, reduce emergency demand, and deliver more joined-up, preventative care. It's been a privilege to support this work and co-author a blueprint for transformation that we hope will inspire action across the country.'

The report also identifies structural challenges to wider adoption — from financial disincentives in social care to workforce development gaps — and sets out practical recommendations to overcome them, including:

  • Reforming funding models to allow care providers to invest in preventative roles and technologies
  • Investing in the social care workforce to enhance capacity, retention, and recognition of their role in delivering health outcomes.

Dr Elina Naydenova, chief executive and co-founder of Feebris, said: ‘We are excited to see the impact already made in transforming outcomes for care teams and for residents, proving that investment in social care is not only strengthening the sector but also providing a route to reducing growing pressures on the health system.

'It's clear that we're currently at a crossroads, and now more than ever, we need organisations to come together, share ideas and find new ways to shape the future of care delivery, tackling growing challenges head-on.'

The full white paper can be read here. 

Government unveils measures to protect children from knife content

Government unveils measures to protect children from knife content

By Liz Wells 25 April 2025

The government is to introduce tougher sanctions to hold tech platforms to account for failing to protect children from harmful knife crime content.

Organisations urge government to act on supported housing crisis

By Liz Wells 25 April 2025

More than 150 cross-sector organisations, public bodies and charities have written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor calling for urgent action to save the...

'Ticking timebomb' of dentists approaching retirement revealed

By Liz Wells 25 April 2025

One in three NHS dentists are approaching retirement age in some areas, with hundreds of dental providers having handed back their NHS contracts in the past ...


Popular articles by Liz Wells