Sign of the times

Steve Hards

It is surely a sign of the times when councillors in a town (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK) are so worried that there are so many older people who do not have friends or family who could check on them if a telecare alert is raised that they are calling for a ‘response centre’ to be set up. [We assume they mean a team that can be called upon to go and check on someone, rather than a centre to receive alarm calls. Of course, in most other countries you’d be looking to the emergency services or volunteer groups to do that, not the local council.] Fight to bring community alarm service to town. North-West Evening Mail item.