New evidence from the Connected Care Programme demonstrates how proactive monitoring, NEWS2 and partnerships are helping care homes recognise deterioration earlier, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and keep more people safely where they call home.
Helping people stay well at home has long been an ambition across health and social care. Today, it's becoming a necessity.
A new report published by Care England and These Hands Academy, Managing Deterioration in Care Homes, highlights the outcomes achieved through the Connected Care Programme across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).
The Connected Care Programme, which utilises the Whzan Blue Box and platform, brings together technology, NEWS2 and workforce development to help care homes recognise deterioration earlier, strengthen collaboration with NHS services and support people to remain where they most want to be: at home.
What began as a pilot across 20 care homes in LLR has grown into a programme supporting more than 100 care homes and over 3,500 residents, demonstrating how proactive monitoring can transform care at scale.
The results speak for themselves.
The report describes measurable reductions in avoidable hospital admissions and ambulance conveyances, generating millions of pounds in system savings alongside an estimated return of around £30 for every £1 invested. It also found that 90% of participating care homes reported increased confidence using NEWS2 when communicating with GPs and urgent care services.
Beyond the statistics, the human stories are what stay with you.
Carers report feeling more confident in recognising subtle signs of deterioration. Residents gain a better understanding of their own health through routine observations. Families receive reassurance that changes are identified before they become emergencies. One example shows how proactive monitoring helped a resident remain comfortably at home during their final days, surrounded by family, rather than being transferred unnecessarily to hospital.
For us, that's what matters most.
Technology was never the point.
It exists to make conversations easier, decisions more confident, and care better connected. With the Whzan Blue Box, Bluetooth-enabled devices, and with NEWS2 automatically calculated, the Connected Care Programme gave care teams the confidence to identify deterioration earlier, record observations accurately, and communicate clearly with healthcare professionals. The platform removes barriers, but it's always the people behind it who make the difference.
One of the strongest messages in the report is that successful implementation depends on much more than simply providing equipment. Ongoing training, support and partnership were identified as critical factors in achieving sustainable outcomes. That's something we've always believed too.
Even the best platform delivers value only when people feel confident using it as part of their everyday care.
The NHS 10 Year Plan challenges the sector to shift care from hospitals to communities, embrace digital technology and place greater emphasis on prevention. The Connected Care Programme demonstrates that these ambitions are already achievable when care teams are given the right tools, properly supported and trusted to use them.
This independent evidence demonstrates the impact that approach can have, not only in reducing pressure on the wider health system but, more importantly, in improving the everyday experience of residents, carers and families.
We're proud that the Whzan platform has played a part in that journey, helping care professionals recognise deterioration earlier, intervene sooner and, ultimately, enable more people to remain safely in the place they call home.
