Digital Office for Scottish Local Government & Farrpoint Collaborate on the Telecare Benefits Framework Summary Report
The Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, in partnership with FarrPoint, has published a report evidencing the wide-ranging benefits of telecare services across Scotland’s health and social care sector.
The “Telecare Benefits Framework Summary Report” provides, a robust, evidence-based evaluation of telecare’s impact, using a structured framework aligned with best practice guidance from HM Treasury and the Digital Appraisal Manual for Scotland. The findings confirm that telecare is delivering significant improvements for service users, health and care providers, and the wider public sector.
Key findings include:
- Improved Wellbeing: Telecare services have led to a 28% improvement in service user wellbeing, supporting people to live independently and safely at home.
- Financial Savings: The Shared Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) model has delivered a 6% reduction in ARC tariff costs, with annual reductions in residential care costs estimated at £50,000 per service user and £190 million across Scotland.
- Operational Efficiencies: The adoption of digital responder apps has resulted in a 20% reduction in time spent on administrative tasks, freeing up staff to focus on direct care.
- System-Wide Impact: Telecare response services have contributed to an annual reduction of 30,920 ambulance call-outs and 46,630 emergency bed days across Scotland, easing pressure on emergency services and hospitals.
- Environmental Benefits: Reduced demand for at-home care and travel has the potential to lower emissions, supporting Scotland’s sustainability goals.
The report also highlights the importance of the ongoing transition from analogue to digital telecare, ensuring continuity and resilience for over 142,000 people who rely on these services. While several benefits remain unquantified due to current data limitations, the framework established in this report will enable further analysis as more data becomes available.
David Brown, Business Relationship Manager for the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, said; "The Telecare Benefits Framework illustrates exactly how great an impact telecare has in Scotland. It helps people stay independent at home for longer and boosts their wellbeing. The goal isn’t just to introduce technology, but to enhance quality of life. This evidence-based method makes sure that every telecare investment leads to clear benefits for both citizens and the public sector".
