Home care call system in makeover
COUNCIL chiefs are to approve the delivery of new digital ‘carephones’ to thousands of the most vulnerable people living in Kirklees as part of a nationwide upgrade of the phone network.
In-house telecare supports about 7,000 people across the borough.
Now half of them are to get new phones to replace existing analogue devices at a cost of almost £1.4m. A further £1.3m will be spent on SIM cards over the next four years.
Kirklees Council says the switchover is to start this month with an expected completion date of December 2023.
The UK’s analogue network will be ‘retired’ by provider Openreach by the end of 2025.
The carephone service provides people with the means of calling for help if they require urgent assistance.
Users can carry on living independent lives in the places and communities they call home while those at risk of harm or abuse are kept safe.
Assistive technology such as telecare packages are regularly provided to support patients as part of hospital discharge.
It helps local hospitals manage patient flow and reduces the risk of a readmission because of a delayed response to a medical emergency.
The council wants to ensure people are not inconvenienced by the digital switchover and some local exchanges have already have already been upgraded to a fully fibre digital network. The Flockton and Kirkburton exchanges ended in January.
The switchover means that any technology that relies on the analogue network – such as community alarm systems of the type provided by the carephone service – will need to be replaced.
The council says there has been a rise in demand on the carephone service over the last three years with a 15% increase in the volume of calls.
There has been a 40% increase in the length and complexity of calls, ‘which underlines the importance of managing this technology transition well alongside the increased operational demands on the service.’
The cost of making the changes includes hiring six new members of staff.
The council’s decision-making Cabinet will be asked to approve the £1.381m spending on June 14.
In-house telecare supports about 7,000 people across the borough