Member Article

Online System Revolutionises Patient Care

A Middlesbrough health entrepreneur is revolutionising the way people with physical and mental disabilities are cared for in their own homes with an innovative new online system, reducing burdens on NHS budgets and freeing up vital hospital beds.

After 11 years working in different roles in the NHS, Carl McLennon-Cummings recognised an opportunity to improve care and reduce the strain on hospital resources by giving patients more flexibility and choice over care in their own homes.

Carl set up Cleveland Care Enterprises in 2010 to provide individualised support services for clients with a range of physical and mental disabilities with an emphasis on client led rather than one-size-fits-all packages.

And now, thanks to support from Sunderland Software City, clients will be able to tailor and modify their own support packages on a new dynamic online platform, giving them greater autonomy over the level and quality of care their receive.

Chief Executive Carl said: “Ensuring that clients have high quality of care is vitally important, but it is just as important for them to have the autonomy to decide what care they receive and where they receive it.

“All too often, hospital beds are filled with patients who could easily be cared for in the comfort and reassurance of their own homes but insufficient resource is available to be able to do so, causing unnecessary strain on NHS budgets and resource.

“By providing bespoke, patient-led care services, Cleveland Care Enterprises enables people to be in control of the care they receive, tailoring services to suit their needs and wishes rather than being dictated by budgets and resources.

“We have been providing high quality bespoke care packages to clients for three years now and have seen a massive uptake in our services during this time. The addition of the new online booking system will revolutionise the way our clients tailor their packages, giving them even more control and autonomy over the care they receive.”

The company, based at Boho One in the heart of Middlesbrough’s Boho Zone, built the system on a cloud database, allowing all information to be housed online and for users to login from any computer or smartphone, giving greater choice and flexibility.

The system also allows nurses, healthcare professionals and carers to register their details and create a profile page, allowing clients to select and book support sessions with their preferred care provider.

With the addition of the online booking and management system, Carl is hoping to provide services to more NHS trusts and local authorities.

Cleveland Care Enterprises is being supported by Sunderland Software City, the regional initiative driving and supporting the growth of the North East software industry.

Cleveland Care Enterprises contacted Sunderland Software City for market intelligence and technical due diligence support in developing the company’s online system and has received on-going business, technology and marketing advice from the initiative.

Carl said: “The support received from Sunderland Software City has been invaluable. As well as being able to access market intelligence information they have provided on-going business advice and mentoring and technical due diligence.

“Initiatives such as Sunderland Software City and infrastructure such as Boho One are vital to supporting and encouraging the growth of businesses investing in technological innovation in the North East.

Middlesbrough, and the North East as a whole, is the ideal place to start and grow a business, with great transport links, business support networks and affordably priced office space, the region is very much on the up.“

Billy Webber, Business Support manager at Sunderland Software City said: “Cleveland Care Services is just one company demonstrating how innovative use of technology can revolutionise a business and improve the quality of service delivered to clients.

“Carl’s determination to provide better quality, patient-led care services makes a real difference to clients quality of life and we look forward to continuing to work with Cleveland Care Enterprises in the future.”

The Sunderland Software City project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Watson .