Care services minister visits Harrogate to see telecare systems at work

Care services minister Phil Hope MP has visited the Greenfield Court Supported Housing Scheme in Harrogate this week to see how innovative telecare systems are helping North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) to maintain high levels of social care provision and improve efficiency in health and social care, whilst enhancing the quality of life for telecare users.

During the visit Mr Hope, who has special responsibility for care services, was able to see first-hand how the telecare from Tunstall Healthcare is enabling older people and those with long-term needs within North Yorkshire to live safely and independently in their own homes.

NYCC recognised the potential of telecare to improve efficiency in delivering care services and deployed it across the region as part of its standard care management process. In the first year of the telecare programme, the Council saved over £1 million on domiciliary or residential care, with the net average efficiency gain being £3,600 per person, equating to a 38% reduction in care costs.

Derek Law, corporate director adult and community services, said: 'Telecare is now established as a key component of our commissioning agenda. We have a significant range of training tools and case studies which highlight the positive outcomes for individuals, and we expect that all social care assessments will consider if its use could create a personalised package of care to safeguard the individual.

'The Minister advised me that the reason he came to North Yorkshire was that the County Council was described to him as an exemplar authority, leading the way nationally in the use of assistive technology to allow people to live independently and with dignity. On departing the Minister confirmed that the County Council are indeed leading the way. He will be using information and footage from his visit in launching his blueprint for a new National Care Service which will be emphasising the approach that he has witnessed today in Harrogate,' added Derek Law.

A satisfaction survey, which was carried out in August 2008 in North Yorkshire, showed that telecare equipment had helped 95% of telecare users to feel safer and had given them confidence and peace of mind.

Furthermore, in a recent Performance Assessment carried out by the Care Quality Commission, the council's effective use of telecare helped them to be graded as ‘excellent' in providing care to patients. The assessment showed that of those patients surveyed, 91% rated their telecare service as ‘excellent' or ‘very good' overall.

Jon Lowe, managing director for Tunstall, said: 'The use of telecare as a mainstream approach by NYCC is a leading example of how care services can be delivered cost-effectively and with high satisfaction from service users. Their commitment to the programme has been a key contributor to its success, supported by ongoing investment in telecare co-ordinators and equipment, and intensive staff training using a range of tools.'

Other contributing factors to NYCC's telecare success include; having a clear commissioning strategy; having professional and knowledgeable members of staff to drive the telecare agenda; and having good working relationships with their telecare providers.

Telecare is a low-level, cost-effective alternative to traditional institutional or residential care, and can assist in reducing some of the pressure on care providers, by providing people in independent housing with access to round-the-clock support and care.