NEWS

It is likely that in the coming weeks, Telecare Services will face an increased demand, whilst potentially experiencing staff shortages and changes in working conditions. Staff involved in monitoring, installation and responding will have to adopt new ways of working to manage additional risk and ensure service continuity. 

Increased demand may include:

• A higher number of service users requesting help or reassurance;
• A higher number of service users requiring a face to face response;
• Managing longer waits for emergency services to respond;
• A higher number of requests for the urgent installation of telecare to prevent hospital admissions, facilitate hospital discharge and support vulnerable people who are self-isolating.

In the first instance, the TEC Programme and the Local Government Digital Office Digital Telecare teams have compiled guidance, which aims to support local service continuity planning. 

READ TELECARE SERVICE CONTINUITY GUIDANCE 

The document contains contingency plans you may want to consider locally. They are subject to local risk assessment and decision making and will need to be considered in the context of wider planning and arrangements in your organisation and area.

They should be considered alongside information issued by the Scottish Government, Health Protection Scotland and NHS inform.

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact NSS.TEC@nhs.net.