The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in its report Time to Care? (18 Oct 2006) highlights the good telecare work that has been undertaken in Sandwell for the past few years. Of particular note it says that “The data suggest that across 69 clients tracked over the past year, more than 2,500 home care visits have been saved. Telecare may also be helping people to remain at home for longer, and even preventing some hospital admissions. So, although telecare has required some investment, including investment in the training of assessment staff, Sandwell and its partners are committed to developing the approach further. Funding for telecare has been jointly supported by health and social services and is recognised as having a major role to play in enabling local health service reconfiguration plans over the next three years. The telecare initiative has also embraced other local agencies with responsibilities for community safety including police and fire services and local ‘third sector’ community and voluntary groups.” (Take a bow, Barry Downs, all that hard work is paying off! Link to 2004 presentation by Barry.)
Download the CSCI report (as pdf or MP3) from its Time to Care? webpage.
You can also read more general comment in the E-Health Insider Primary Care story on this item.