Flagship citywide telecare scheme launched in Birmingham
£14m partnership with Tunstall enables people to stay in their homes for longer
Birmingham City Council has this week launched a ground-breaking city-wide telecare service in partnership with supplier, Tunstall.
The £14m service, believed to be the largest of its kind in the UK, will benefit up to 25,000 people over the next three years and marks a significant milestone in the local authority’s aim to support adults to remain in their own homes for longer, reducing the need for hands-on home care or a move into residential care.
At the launch, Paul Burstow, Minister for Care Services, said telecare technologies can alleviate pressure on health and care services and on family members and improve people’s quality of life while maximising their independence.
He added: “Birmingham should be proud that it is pioneering this new approach, which is set to improve the quality of care for service users and increase their independence and dignity, as well as reducing the time they spend in hospital.”
”It is only by the telecare industry working together with partners such as Birmingham City Council that this will be possible. Their collaboration illustrates the kind of partnership between industry and service providers that the Department of Health’s 3MillionLives telehealth and telecare campaign is seeking to encourage.”
Councillor Sue Anderson, cabinet member for adults and communities at the council, added: “We are proud to provide services that mean vulnerable adults across the city can continue to live independently, with the additional reassurance that support is available whenever needs, 24 hours a day.
“Our partnership with Tunstall marks a significant milestone in how we are improving the lives of adults we support throughout the city and will ensure more adults can remain in their own homes, reducing the need for hands-on home care or a move into residential care.”
The initiative combines a response service with a range of telecare solutions from Tunstall, including motion detectors and temperature sensors to support older people and those with long-term needs. By extending telecare service provision to more people, the city council hopes to create a systemic shift towards early intervention and preventative services, to meet growing demand for increasingly personalised care packages.
The telecare service will be delivered across chosen care pathways, which include enablement of service users, prevention services and assessment and support planning.
Tunstall UK managing director, Simon Arnold, said: “Our commitment to Birmingham City Council is truly innovative in terms of its partnership approach. The Mears Group, for example is supporting us in the delivery of this programme. It brings together parties from the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver community-based services that will enhance residents’ independence and promote self management, while ensuring 24-hour care is available.”
And Alan Long, executive director of Mears Group, which will be assessing and installing the equipment, added: “We are firm believers in the benefits of telecare and telehealth and we applaud Birmingham City Council for leading the way and making independent living for older residents a reality.”