Birmingham City Council has launched its large-scale, city-wide telecare
service in partnership with Tunstall. The service, which is believed to be the
first of its kind in the UK, will benefit up to 25,000 people over the next
three years and marks a significant milestone in how the city council is
supporting more adults to remain in their own homes for longer, reducing the
need for hands-on home care or a move into residential care.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: "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 Three Million Lives campaign is seeking
to encourage.”
Birmingham City Council has invested £14million into its city-wide
telecare initiative, which embodies the Department of Health’s recently
announced ‘3millionlives’ approach. The approach will aim to transform the
lives of three million people with long-term conditions and social care needs
over the next five years, through the use of telecare and telehealth.
Councillor Sue Anderson, cabinet member for
Adults and Communities, said: "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 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 Birmingham Telecare Service 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 intends 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. A Birmingham Telehealthcare Delivery Centre has been set up to ensure
services are available locally and developed in conjunction with the voluntary
sector. In addition, an independent Citizen’s Quality Assurance Group will be
established to monitor effective outcomes for users and deciding the future
direction of the service.
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, whilst ensuring
24-hour care is available.”
Alan
Long, Executive Director from Mears Group who will be assessing and installing
the equipment said; "Mears are delighted to be supporting Tunstall in the
delivery of this programme. 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.”
To see telecare case studies about the service, go HERE