Rupert Lawrence, Head of Medequip Connect, reflects on the impact of the recent ITEC Conference and its implications for the future of proactive and preventative Technology Enabled Care (TEC).
It didn’t disappoint. The Conference was full of energy and innovation, powerfully highlighting the importance of our sector as central to government thinking about the future of social care and the NHS. It was well attended with an impressive array of innovative suppliers and truly great speakers, notably the new Conference Chair Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care.
Prior to last week’s ITEC Conference, I described this as a seminal moment for our sector. Working in Technology Enabled Care for almost 20 years, I have never before experienced such a crucial moment for our industry. TEC has never had such a prominent place at the table for influencing the transformation of services in Health and Social Care.
This year’s ITEC Conference has further illuminated the spotlight now being shone on the TEC sector, with increased energy reflected prominently in reference to the forthcoming ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) blueprint for proactive and preventative TEC in social care.
A platform to share our experiences
As a key sponsor, Medequip Connect enjoyed a unique opportunity and a platform to share exactly what we have been committing our energies to for the past few years. We were able to communicate clearly with our colleagues in health and social care, demonstrating our innovation and delivery at scale around proactive and preventative TEC, taking on challenges and delivering results whilst gaining valuable learning and genuine experience. Being able to share that and bring it to life was an especially important aspect of the Conference for us.
Medequip Connect was honoured to be part of a session on the Innovation Stage, looking at service delivery for proactive and preventative TEC, and at how and why this new service model is the way forward for the future of social care. It was extremely powerful for us as a business to be able to demonstrate how this is now working at scale in our contract for London Borough of Sutton, and how it is translating to other organisations adopting the proactive and preventative approach.
Using the power of AI
Levels of investment in TEC are increasing. When combined with improving interoperability within the sector and the fantastic new technologies emerging, from extremely smart voice assistants to medication management, using the power of AI to drive improved outcomes is realising significant benefits for the people who use our services, their families, the NHS, social care and the wider community.
This is at front and centre for the Medequip Connect service offer. We are working closely with the Access Group to harness data and the power of data in proactive and preventative TEC services. Using the Access Assured dashboard with machine learning gives accurate, real time data insights enabling better levels of care for people in the community.
The vital role of the TSA
Our thanks go to the TSA, the voice of technology enabled care, for delivering the headline event for our sector and continuing to champion the proactive and preventative approach. The TSA quality framework is essential to achieving improved outcomes for the people using our service, and additional TSA events planned throughout 2025 will continue to change thinking around the role of TEC in delivering services.
Many thanks too to the sector leaders who took time to share their insights and knowledge, to all who contributed to the success of the event, to our fellow speakers and those who listened to the sessions we participated in and to those who visited the Medequip Connect stand, engaging in discussions and sharing their knowledge.
At the ITEC Conference 2025, we all built knowledge we can further develop, working towards a shared goal of improving outcomes by successfully delivering proactive and preventative TEC.