Local authorities urged to accelerate telecare initiatives

The Care Services Improvement Partnership has urged local authorities to refer to its guidance to get the ball rolling on the implementation of telecare, and use available framework contracts to speed up the implementation of telecare projects.

Ian Salt, programme manager for physical disabilities and the sensory impairment team, said that since the Preventative Technology Grant (PTG) was released in April, there has been a significant increase in telecare activity, and more councils could save themselves time by using CSIP’s telecare implementation guide.

Speaking at this week’s Laing and Buisson Telecare and Assistive Technology conference, Salt said: “CSIP have been working on telecare since 2002, and our research has shown that the implementation of telecare has a potential project management programme of 30 months from appointing project managers, to identifying suppliers and considering ethics as well as looking for pilot sites and calculating charging and funding."

He said that by using CSIP’s free implementation guide, local authorities can use the National Framework Agreement from the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency and avoid the need to go out to tender. Instead they can use one of the approved suppliers and have the whole project running within one year.

Salt said: "All the considerations necessary are in the guide, and I would urge councils to start spending their PTG allocation and implement telecare.”

Salt said that the potential of telecare is gaining in recognition and it may be the vital key to meeting the growing demands of caring for people with long term conditions.

“Telecare offers choice and flexibility of service provision – from community alarms and sensors to vital signs monitoring. An estimated 90% of people want to live in their home and in the future new demands will need to be managed. We must embrace new ways of working to meet the needs and aspirations of our service users and take advantage of new and developing technologies.”

He added that the PTG was provided to local authorities with the means to make initial investments in telecare, and build capabilities. “The PTG has a three fold approach. It should provide the initial investment for telecare, co-ordinate demand to ensure the industry grows as fast as possible and it should educate and build knowledge and awareness amongst those who will be commissioning telecare services. Overall, it should help to unlock resources and redirect them elsewhere.”

Salt urged the audience to also think of telecare in its broadest sense and not just for the elderly. It can equally be applied using twenty-first century technology such as mobile phones to send text message reminders when a person misses an appointment, or if a change of weather could be a concern for a patient’s well-being.

“People are living longer but they are less likely to have family support close at hand. People will have higher expectations; they will want greater control and be able to manage their own risks. Twenty-first century technology can be a great aid to them.”

The CSIP telecare implementation guide and factsheets are available at www.cat.csip.org.uk/telecare.