HILLINGDON COUNCIL REALISES SAVINGS OF £4.7M THROUGH MAINSTREAMED TELECARE AND REABLEMENT SERVICES

Hillingdon Council has reported on the success of its TeleCareLine and reablement services following an evaluation after 12 months, demonstrating cost savings of £4.7m and a 50% reduction in residential care home admissions. The service is part of the council's efforts to reduce dependence on long-term residential care and enable people to remain living independently at home for as long as possible.

With the third highest proportion of gross expenditure in London for older people on residential and nursing care placements, Hillingdon Council wants to shift the proportion of the budget spent in these areas by focusing on home-based support, risk prevention and early intervention, and the Council has put in place a robust system and financial modelling to evaluate its success.

Hillingdon has made significant progress over the last 12 months by surpassing its target of 750 new TeleCareLine users in 2011/12, with over 1120 additional people benefiting for telecare in year one. It is expected this will rise to a total of 3000 additional people by 2015.

An evaluation of 195 service users with enhanced packages of telecare support over the last twelve months, found that in 48% of cases telecare delayed the need for further services, a further 42% resulted in a smaller homecare package and in 10% of cases a delay in residential care placements has occurred. Admissions of older people to residential placements have halved and are at their lowest level since April 2008.

The following 2 case studies are examples of the difference telecare is making to people's lives:

 - The daughter of one TeleCareLine user said "TeleCareLine saved my mother's life". Her mother was able to press the telecare button, whilst collapsing during a stroke, enabling prompt emergency medical attention.
 - Arthur is 96 years of age and lives with his wife, Pamela. He has vascular dementia, which has led to instances of him leaving home and finding himself confused and unable to return, putting himself at risk. TeleCareline provided a portable motion sensor linked to a pager, which alerts his wife if Arthur tries to leave the house during the day. The pager also tells Pamela if her husband leaves his bed at night so she can help him go to the bathroom, avoiding accidents and meaning she can now go to sleep without worrying. She says "I now feel rested and have more freedom around the home. I tell all my friends about this amazing equipment and wouldn't be without it."

Linda Sanders, Corporate Director for Social Care Health and Housing at Hillingdon Council said: "When I joined Hillingdon Council some 18 months ago, we set an ambitious target to reduce reliance on institutional care across all adult social care user groups from 51% of our budget in March 2011, to an average of 30% over the period 2011-15. We have made strong progress in year one of a four-year programme.

"The success of our telecare service has been underpinned by the support of key 'champions' within the Council, including the Leader of the Council, and this has ensured the necessary vision and strategy to ensure strong member and officer buy-in. For us, it is about positioning telecare at the forefront of our care provision to ensure no one is admitted to residential care without being afforded the opportunity for telecare support at home. Our partnership with Tunstall marks a significant milestone into how we are improving the lives of Hillingdon residents."

As part of its objectives, the council is seeking to provide more integrated care for its older residents, working with the health service, voluntary organisations and other local bodies to develop a personalised care service that could keep people living in their own homes for longer. Health linkages are continuing to grow, with high rates of telecare referrals coming from Hillingdon Hospital.

Hillingdon's TeleCareLine service is part of a mainstream offer and is free to anyone over 85, or as part of a reablement package. In the last year, the service received more than 165,000 TeleCareLine calls from around 5000 residents now using telecare. The service provides varying levels of support, ranging from the standard service package to the highest level of assistance, with full access to a range of telecare sensors, such as fall detectors and bed occupancy sensors, to address residents' individual needs. A 24-hour, 365 days a year responder service is a crucial new offer to support people in their homes who do not have relatives able to respond to emergency calls.

David Cockayne, Health and Social Care Director at Tunstall said: "The deployment of telecare in Hillingdon has enhanced reablement for people across the area and delivered significant cost savings. Telecare provides vital support to residents with a range of care needs, and with excellent leadership from an in-house monitoring and installation team and mobile response service, we are proud to provide a service to Hillingdon that has created a unified, preventative telecare service to encourage early intervention and support independence."

Whilst those over 85 can claim for free telecare, any Hillingdon resident can apply to use the TeleCareLine service for a small monthly cost.

Source:  eHealth News - http://www.ehealthnews.eu/tunstall/3126-hillingdon-council-realises-savings-of-p47m-through-mainstreamed-telecare-and-reablement-services

Farm owner fined £1,500 for power cables safety breach

A farm owner has been prosecuted for failing to complete legally required documentation working safely near overhead power cables.

Bedford Magistrates Court heard that on 23 June, 2010 an employee of Davison & Co (Barford) Ltd, the owners of College Farm in Great Barford, Bedfordshire was tipping compost from a lorry trailer into a field when the trailer came into contact with a live 33kV power line overhead.

No-one was injured, but a subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had neglected to complete essential, legal documentation relating to the line.

This is required to inform both employees and regulators of the existence of the hazard so that appropriate steps and controls can be put in place to keep workers safe.

Davison & Co (Barford) Ltd, of College Farm, Great Barford admitted breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 in relation to the offence, and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £500 in costs.

However, the company was found not guilty of breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 in connection to the tipper lorry incident.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Stephen Faulkner said: "It is an employer's duty to complete all legally required documentation to ensure that necessary steps to protect workers from risk are communicated formally to all relevant parties, including the workers themselves.”

Health & Safety: Improving the safety record of UK’s most dangerous industry

Agriculture is officially the most dangerous industry to work in. Farmers are used to doing things their own way, without assistance or advice, and many still ignoring the facts. Clemmie Gleeson looks at how can the industry facilitate change and become a blueprint for best practice.

Farmers are not invincible, yet many take uncalculated risks with their lives everyday. Lone working, long hours, dependence on weather and daylight, and economic pressures, as well as increasingly powerful machinery have become a dangerous combination, contributing to high numbers of injuries and fatalities on farms over the years.

Figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as broken bones or amputations, rose to 640 from 599 the previous year.

Tragically, 38 people lost their lives working on farms compared to 25 the previous year and above the five-year average of 37.

It is the rate of fatal injuries to workers in 2009-10 - 8 per 100,000 - which earned agriculture the title of Britain’s most dangerous industry. While only around 1.5 per cent of the working population is employed in agriculture, it accounted for one in four work-related deaths last year.

Many of the accidents could have been prevented, or their impact reduced, had simple safety precautions been taken, believes Graeme Walker, head of agriculture at the HSE.

“The first thing to learn is that accidents are not acts of God,” he says. “They are generally caused by failure to do something properly and are often repeated time and time again.

Cutting corners

“There are all sorts of pressures on farmers which cause them to take unconsidered risks that if they were to step back and think about they might have taken a different view. There is a lot of pressure to cut corners.

“The industry as a whole has been in denial and that it is not just a problem for industry, but one for individuals,” he says.

But how do you change an industry where many farmers have their own methods of working - despite knowing such techniques do not meet even the most basic of health and safety requirements?

“Individuals need to rethink their attitude and behaviour, while the industry needs a culture change,” says Mr Walker. “They need to think about what they are doing and be prepared to ask for advice,” he says. “On an industry level, the culture of cutting corners is something we cannot accept any longer.”

Agriculture is about a decade behind other industries in terms of health and safety, he warns. The construction industry was in a similar position when it started to work collectively on the issue about 10 years ago.

It was the most dangerous industry to work in, and despite pleas from the HSE, little seemed to be happening.

That began to change when the construction industry took responsibility for improving its safety record. It held an industry summit to discuss the crisis and what could be done to change things.

John Spanswick, who was chief of contractor Bovis Lend Lease, says getting the industry to work together was key.

“Unless the industry is engaged, there won’t be any change,” he says. “The HSE has helped, and we have a positive dialogue with it. They have good technical people, who have helped the industry work to improve its safety record.”

Changing behaviour and culture is vital any improvement, he says. “The construction industry needed to get personal - everybody has something they value.”

Construction, like agriculture, has a massive focus on getting the job done in time. “Sometimes that means when it comes to health and safety, other pressures overtake it. But we have to be uncompromising about it,” he says.

Saving lives

Sharing information on the cause of accidents and near misses helped save lives in construction, he says. But it became apparent that some workers - about 20 per cent of those in construction - will never get the message and as a consequence require very close supervision at all times.

“We also worked with everyone in the industry - workers, designers and suppliers - to look at ways of helping to solve some of the issues.”

Achieving change means acknowledging there is a problem and wanting to address it, he says. As a result, construction has seen a dramatic fall in fatal injuries (from 118 in 1983 to 30 in 2009-10).

The HSE’s ‘Make the Promise’ campaign, launched in January 2009, helped pave the way for change. It urged farmers to make the promise to themselves, their families and their businesses to ‘come home safe’ by taking time to consider their safety while going about their day-to-day work.

More than 30,000 farmers signed up to the campaign, which offered a small ‘promise knot’ to hang in a prominent place to remind them of their promise.

It wasn’t until Scottish livestock farmer Wullie Russell had a harrowing experience of his own, which left him fighting for his life, that he backed the campaign.

While pumping out a flooded underground storage tank, he slipped on ice and his shirt got caught on the partially-guarded pto shaft of the slurry tanker. It was ripped from his body and the friction was so great, his skin was flayed from the left side of his chest and arm. He crashed to the ground, hitting his head on the draw bar of the tanker and gained extensive internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen, four broken ribs and damage to his lungs and kidneys. He spent four days in a high dependency ward and was eventually allowed home from hospital 10 days later. He was unable to work for seven months.

Graeme Walker and his HSE colleagues considered the campaign a success, but believe it is just the beginning.

“It means 30,000-plus people are now recognising health and safety is a major issue - it is a step forward for the industry.”

He would like to see the industry take the campaign forward further. That work has already begun, and Mr Walker welcomes a farming industry-wide ‘safety summit’, held at the end of last year.

“Now we are seeing for the first time that key bodies in the industry are saying: we are going to take responsibility and demonstrate we can improve it.”

The summit saw organisations, such as the NFU, CLA, TFA, agricultural colleges, Lantra and Unite come together to discuss the health and safety of farming for the first time.

“The whole idea is to get people talking about safety and the importance of it,” says the NFU’s Peter Garbutt, who has recently added farm safety to his remit as transport and inputs adviser.

“We want to have a common-sense approach with some very simple practical ideas - the focus is on reducing accidents. We want to empower people to talk about health and safety. It is not just the preserve of the HSE, but a fundamental part of what we do.”

Mr Garbutt has been analysing the statistics to find what lessons can be learned.

“The key areas that we are looking at to start with are transport, machinery and falls,” he explains. “They are the causes of the biggest number of accidents, but are the easiest areas to make a difference.

“We will not see movement unless we see leadership from the top, which is why we have involved management from all organisations,” he says. “There will always be accidents, but what we want to do is reduce their severity and stop the preventable ones.

“We do not want to stop people doing their jobs - just to think about safety. Farmers are resourceful people and will no doubt have their own ideas.

“We want to impress on farmers that they are not invincible - they are invaluable to their businesses and families.”

I4S video: Lone Worker Protection at IFSEC 2012 - Mario Zuccaro (Oysta Technology)

'Oysta Technology is one of the company's exhibiting in the inaugural Lone Worker Protection area at IFSEC International 2012. In this video interview, md Mario Zuccaro explains why.

Oysta Technology provides GPS and telemetry-based solutions to a wide range of industries, Governments and law enforcement agencies.

The company specialises in designing and installing lone worker, telecare and vehicle safety and monitoring systems for a variety of customers.

Safety is its business and the company takes that responsibility very seriously indeed. Sectors covered by its solutions include security, transport, the utilities, telecoms, FM, Government and the public sector, telecare and the charities sphere.

Oysta Technology's dedicated team boasts over 50 years' experience in the market and operates in 15 countries across four continents. That team works with over 3,000 customers worldwide, its clients including the Ministry of Justice, Compass Group, Age Telefonica Spain, MTN, Anglo Gold Mining, the Australian Federal Police and O2 Telefonica.

The overriding aim is to deliver 'out of the box' and bespoke solutions, all of them BS 8484, RoHs, CE and SAR compliant.

Engagement at IFSEC International 2012
At IFSEC International 2012, Oysta Technology is also delivering a presentation on how to design profitable lone worker security solutions. This will be given by Miguel Angel Orellana, chief marketing officer at the company. It runs in Hall 3a in the Lone Worker Protection zone on 17 May from 11.30 am-12.30 pm.

In advance of the exhibition opening its doors on Monday 14 May, Mario Zuccaro - managing director at Oysta Technology - stopped by organiser UBM's London offices for a video interview with Brian Sims, media solutions manager across UBM Live's Security and Fire Portfolio.

What does Mario believe to be the central issues facing the lone worker sector at present in relation to both suppliers and end users?
Why has the company decided to play a fulsome part in the first-ever dedicated Lone Worker Protection zone organised for IFSEC International?
How is the company faring in the current economic landscape, and what are its aspirations for the next six-to-12 months?

Watch the video below and find out the answers to all of these questions.'

original article: Brian Sims http://www.info4security.com/story.asp?sectioncode=49&storycode=4129013&c=1

Help the Elderly to Help Themselves

It has become a matter of fact in the past few years, that in the UK, we have an aging population. According to UK National Statistics, over the period of 1985 – 2010, the number of people aged 65 and over increased by 20% to 10.3 million.

According to NHS statistics, in 2009/2010, 12% of people in England aged 16 or over were caring for a sick, disabled or elderly person – the equivalent of five million carers.

With these statistics in mind, the demand for carers – whether publically funded or not – is on the rise and it looks as though demand is already surpassing resources resulting in relatives adopting the role.

Just as Telecare provides assistive technology services in order to help those who are elderly or less-mobile, there are also retailers who specialise in daily living aids for this aging audience. Not only could this assist those who struggle to live independently but it can also relieve the duties of carers working for free.

The time that relatives or friends put into care for their relatives/acquaintances in need has been declared as valuable, not only to our economy but also by those who may not have any other assistance. Research published by the University of Leeds in 2007 valued the unpaid care that was provided at about £87 billion a year – a staggering amount.

In order for those who need care to not feel like a burden, or to feel more confident in living self-sufficiently, aids for daily living around the home could help relax this demand for carers as well asenabling more elderly or less mobile people to live autonomously.

These aids can include anything that provides the vulnerable with the reassurance they need to remain living in their own home – whether it be a grab rail, non-slip mat, or bath lift.

One area that does make some uncomfortable about living alone can be security but there are products available to assist here also. For example, keypads attached next to your exterior front door can give carers (or anyone you choose to give the access code to) entry without you having to get up to answer the door – particularly helpful for those with mobility issues. Similarly, electronic door phones mean you can speak to the visitor on your doorstep via intercom before having to go and see who it is for yourself.

The fact is that carer resources are strained and shall become more so as our population’s age continues to rise, alongside budget cuts within the health sector. The more that can be done at home, the better, both for the stretched carers industry as well as the individuals who really just want to live their everyday lives as easily and hassle-free as possible.

Original article: http://www.telecaretechnology.com/index.php/help-elderly-help-themselves

Comprehensive guidance for lone workers now available online

A new web page has been launched today to provide lone workers and their employers with a central point of information on health and safety, legal obligations, quality standards and advice on choosing a reputable supplier of lone worker devices.

Launched by the Lone Worker Forum of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the page offers comprehensive, easy-to-understand advice and links to guidance documents, which set out the individual rights and responsibilities of both employers and their lone working employees.

Patrick Dealtry, Chairman of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Forum, comments: “More than six million people in the UK work either in isolation or without direct supervision, often in places or circumstances that put them at potential risk. A wide variety of organisations and industry sectors employ people whose jobs require them to work or operate alone, either regularly or occasionally.

“Almost by definition, lone working can be both intimidating and at times dangerous, so the protection of lone workers involves a twofold approach; not only to provide safeguards but also to offer reassurance to the people involved.”

There are also important considerations to be made when choosing a supplier of lone worker devices, which, Patrick adds, can be difficult, given the wide range of solutions currently available. He adds: “The BSIA’s Lone Worker Forum recommends that companies choose lone worker systems that are compliant to British Standard 8484, which is the Code of Practice for the provision of Lone Worker Services. BS8484 is the basis on which Police respond to lone worker systems, so it's important for employers to choose a supplier who works to these standards.”

“The launch of this dedicated web page means that employers can now find out more about the implications of BS8484, download useful guidance and locate reputable suppliers all in one place, coordinated by the leading trade association for the private security industry.”

Visit the BSIA Lone Worker Forum’s webpage today at http://www.bsia.co.uk/lone-workers

O2 launches mobile helpline service

O2 Health has launched a new mobile telecare service using devices that can detect falls and alert a 24/7 call centre.

Help at Hand involves a mobile-enabled pendant or wristwatch connected to a secure website and alarm receiving centre.

It has been trialled by Devon Partnership NHS Trust with people with mental health issues and Leeds City Council with older people and young people with learning difficulties.

O2 Health managing director Keith Nurcombe launched Help at Hand at the King’s Fund International Congress on Telehealth and Telecare 2012 yesterday.

He said it used the O2 mobile network to give patients the confidence and security of knowing they will be looked after if something happens affecting their health both inside and outside of the home.

Nurcombe said 99% of telecare systems available in the UK were land-line based, meaning patients only had this reassurance while at home, which restricted them in going about their daily lives.

If the alarm is activated on the device, receivers in a call centre can see the patient’s website profile with details about who to call and how to deal with different situations.

The pendant or wristwatch has a fall-down detector and GPS to locate the user. This means safe zones can be defined and, if a patient moves out of the zone, the call centre is alerted.

This feature was used in the Devon trial, which used GPS tracking to monitor those at risk of suicide and those using the low secure forensic service.

Devon Partnership NHS Trust managing partner research and development, Tobit Emmens, said the devices allowed healthcare professionals to interact with patients at risk from suicide when they entered into high risk areas, before the situation could escalate.

“In Devon we have places where people go to take their lives. Through conversations with patients we found that when entering into an area that holds difficult memories, it sometimes presents opportunities to make unhealthy decisions,” he explained.

Having the devices with them gave patients greater confidence that they could go about their lives and if a crisis emerged, it was dealt with at the time, Emmens added.

Help at Hand was also used to track low secure forensic service patients when they left the facility on leave.

Emmens said the trust was looking at longer term use of the system. Leeds City Council trialed the devices as part of its Leeds Telecare Service which currently has 70 users.

Spokeswoman Marianne Howard said use of Help at Hand reduced the likelihood of users needing to move into sheltered housing or residential care. Carers were not required to be with patients for such long periods which could reduce costs.

The system also gave peace of mind to carers who knew they would be alerted if there was a problem.

Nurcombe said the company was working on getting some hard data together on how the system reduces use of secondary care, but said telecare was proven to help avoid unnecessary admission to care homes, reduce emergency call outs and days in hospital.

Help at Hand will be available to health and social care organisations from April. Nurcombe said it would ultimately also be released to the public so consumers can buy it for themselves.

(original article: http://www.ehi.co.uk/news/primary-care/7598/o2-launches-mobile-helpline-service)