Anyone intent on finding reasons to keep their analogue-only solutions in place despite expert advice are potentially putting their customers at unnecessary risk.
That’s the verdict of Openreach in evidence to a new report published by TSA on behalf of the Technology Enabled Care (TEC) sector. It followed a top-level meeting between industry leaders and the Department of Health and Social Care.
Sector delivers warning
The Industry Call to Action Report presents information from across the TEC sector on the status of the digital telephone switchover and actions that needed to be taken to mitigate risk of harm to alarm users.
For TEC commissioners, service providers, suppliers and installers, the report offers essential guidance in understanding the risks of analogue telecare devices working on a digital network.
The main risks, the report suggests, from ‘an analogue telecare device working on a digital network are alarm call failure as well as the impact of mains power failure as battery backup is not provided as standard to digital networks.’
Openreach urge long-term thinking
In its contribution to the report by Openreach, written in conjunction with communication providers, the company suggests that:
“…anyone that is intent on finding reasons to keep their analogue-only solutions in place, contrary to expert advice, rather than accepting and embracing change, will clearly be doing so for short-term financial reasons, and will be doing so despite offering an inferior service to their competitors and potentially putting their customers at unnecessary risk.”
Everon applauds ‘essential’ report
Peter Kerly, Managing Director, Everon UK, said: “This report is an essential read for health care and social care providers in understanding the risk of relying on legacy analogue devices for telecare users.
“At Everon UK, we are focused on delivering digital, data led tech solutions that will improve proactive care within the home and give greater peace of mind.”
Read the report here.
