ELDERLY and vulnerable people have been assured a council-run phone lifeline will continue – despite possibly racking up weekly losses of £3,000.
Taunton Deane Council’s Deane Helpline, which offers round-the-clock support such as a push-button alert system, could lose around £156,000 over the next year.
The authority has pledged to underwrite the losses and implement changes to ensure more financial stability in the future.
A council spokeswoman blamed the situation on “internal and staffing issues”, uncovered when new management and technology was introduced and which have now been addressed.
She added that there will be no disruption in the 24/7 support to the Helpline’s 2,000 clients.
Cllr Jean Adkins, executive councillor for housing services, said: “We are acting quickly to put the problems right and our clients can be assured they can continue to rely on the Helpline they value.
“The Deane Helpline has received very high levels of accreditation for its telecare services – providing equipment such as sensors placed in the home which alert the carer, or a monitoring centre if there is a problem in the home, such as a gas leak or fire, or if the person they’re caring for has a problem and needs help.
“The service also provides the emergency response team that can respond day and night to situations such as an elderly person suffering a fall in their home.”
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