Bridgend County Borough Council has claimed to be the first local authority in Wales to complete a digital switchover of its telecare alarm calls.
It said it has installed over 2,200 new units in advance of the telecoms operators’ move away from using the public switched telephone (PSTN) network to digital networks over the next two years.
The council began the switchover programme in January of this year, backed by a £1 million investment in its Technology Enhanced Care and Telecare programme, using equipment manufactured by Legrand Care and supported by telecare service providers Bridgend Care and Repair and Galw Gofal.
It said the switch has provided telecare users with better call quality and reliability – with fewer failed calls to the call centre – and given service providers a real time overview of the status of the appliances used.
It has also provided scope to combine telecare with telehealth support for people who need it.
Key milestone
Bridgend’s deputy leader and cabinet member for social services, health and wellbeing, Cllr Jane Gebbie, said: “The completion of the digital switchover for our telecare clients is a key milestone for the authority and improves the reliability and efficiency of telecare services, ensuring that vulnerable residents receive a faster and more responsive level of support.
“The success of this switchover has also provided the foundation to moving forward with technological developments to support our services.”
The approach of the digital switchover has been a source of concern for local authorities and telecare providers who have relied on PSTN lines. Earlier this year a number of city-region mayors raised an alert over possible disruption to telecare services, but in October the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said it had come to an agreement with telecoms operators that they will provide protection for vulnerable people.
