London borough to replace council-operated 24/7 monitoring service for elderly residents

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking a supplier to provide an emergency alarm system and round-the-clock phone support for elderly residents. 
 
The council has requested the successful bidder supply two forms of support technology: a social alarm and 24/7 monitoring service, and provision of an out-of-hours emergency answering service, replacing the current system which is monitored on a 24/7 basis by council staff. 

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The contractor will be expected to offer first-line response to all alerts raised and to “provide assurance and escalate issues to either a named responder or a mobile response unit or the relevant emergency services,” according to the official contract notice. 

A total of 4,500 residents, including residents of Hillingdon’s 21 sheltered housing developments across the borough use the council’s telecare service, which is free to residents over 80 years old.
 
An initial three-year contract – worth £1,500,000 – starts in October.