Western Isles Council has received a local government ‘platinum’ award for completing an analogue to digital telecare transition project.
The local authority – known in Gaelic as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – has successfully rolled out a live digital telecare service to 100% of service users and is operating successfully without serious issues or call failures for at least 8 weeks.
Local officials received the Platinum Digital Telecare Implementation Award from the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government.
The council’s telecare service supports over 1,000 people across the Western Isles and plays a significant role in helping people live independently and safely at home, offering support and an emergency response 24 hours each day.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was the first telecare provider to adopt the Shared Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) solution with the achievement made possible through a ‘strong partnership with the Digital Office who have provided support and assurance throughout the transition’.
Removing all analogue equipment within households and replacing with digital units marks the completion of the transition programme and the delivery of an end-to-end digital solution.
Emma Macsween, chief officer for health & social care at the council, said: “I am delighted to see the Faire Community Alarm Service being recognised with the Platinum award for Telecare Implementation.
“The team have worked exceptionally hard to reach the milestone of a fully digital service. With an ageing population, we need to ensure our residents can retain their independence for as long as possible and technology such as this allows them to do so.”
A Digital Office spokesperson said: “We extend our wholehearted congratulations to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future as they use digital telecare as a catalyst to drive innovation in telecare service delivery.
