Social Care Informatics: Beginning to face up to the Reality of the Mixed Services Economy

An ‘eCare’ approach needs to takes a wider view than e-health, by considering issues of support and well-being alongside treatment and cure. This paper considers the challenges of taking this wider approach in the context of the mixed services economy – public, private and voluntary sector - currently developing in the UK. These challenges also offer an insight into the emerging field of Social Care Informatics - a relatively unexplored territory with uncertain boundaries and a scarcity of research. The history of Social Care Informatics developments in the UK is outlined, together with the challenges of meeting the current expectations of government policy while addressing the challenges inherent in the mixed services economy. It is argued that the lack of investment and an equal lack of skilled resources have hampered progress, while the low level of research in this area creates a risk that inappropriate solutions may be imposed. The opportunities for development in this field are explored, along with the potential for developing informatics solutions for the service user as well as the service provider.