Telecare events highlight progress

In recent months, CSIP Networks has been bringing together outcomes and achievements in introducing telecare, telehealth and other forms of remote monitoring across health, housing and social care.

Social care authorities have been sending in examples for inclusion on the CSIP website and it is important that we receive examples from housing and health services to provide a comprehensive picture. Recently five CSIP Networks events were held in London, Leeds, Manchester, Taunton and Birmingham to review the progress made since Building Telecare in England was published by the Department of Health in 2005.

Delegates heard examples of case studies and evaluations covering community safety, extra care, multi-sensor installations, support for people with learning disabilities and dementia - together with vital signs monitoring for people with respiratory and heart conditions. There were many examples of joint and integrated working to support users, carers and their families.

CSIP Networks will be continuing to collect examples of improved outcomes from telecare and telehealth throughout 2008. You can send your examples to Mike Clark via the telecare mailbox (telecare@dhcarenetworks.org.uk) and with your permission, we will include them on the website at www.icn.csip.org.uk/telecareoutcomes. That site also has a full set of slides from the events held in January and February 2008.