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Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 April 2020 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Tuesday, 21 April 2020. A substantive answer was provided by Nadine Dorries (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 April 2020 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Hospitals: ICT

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with technology companies on the donation of (a) mobile phones and (b) tablets to hospitals to enable patients dying from covid-19 without access to technological devices to communicate with their families.

Answer

On 27 March 2020, NHS England published a clinical guide for the management of palliative care in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance highlights the importance of supporting those close to a dying patient to keep in touch, including the ability to connect via phone or other virtual communication.

Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0081-Speciality-guide-Palliative-care-and-coronavirus.pdf

With regard to patients’ ability to access technology to communicate with their families, whilst in hospital, on 9 April, the Government launched an initiative whereby the National Health Service is working with tech firms to help care home residents and patients connect with loved ones. Fifty of the devices have already been deployed to pilot sites in Surrey with Manchester, Newcastle and London to follow.

Further information is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-works-with-tech-firms-to-help-care-home-residents-and-patients-connect-with-loved-ones


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
34959
Session
2019-21
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Subjects
Companies Charitable donations Hospitals ICT Patients Technology Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk