Moray Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is writing to around 400 people who use community alarms and other technology enabled care equipment as it begins the final phase of its digital upgrade programme.
Moray HSCP supports more than 1,500 people across Moray through its technology enabled care service, helping people live safely and independently in their own homes.
Around three quarters of clients are already using digital devices through a rolling replacement programme, part of Moray HSCP’s ongoing investment to modernise its technology enabled care service and ensure it remains reliable for years to come. The remaining devices will be upgraded or replaced before the end of 2026.
People whose equipment still needs to be upgraded will receive a letter from Moray HSCP, followed up with a phone call to arrange a convenient time for a technician to visit their home. During the visit, the technician will install the digital equipment and check it is working properly before leaving.
Community alarm units and pendant or wrist alarms connect through a landline, mobile network or internet connection to the 24-hour alarm receiving centre in Aberdeen. Trained call handlers can provide immediate reassurance and arrange help from a person’s named responders or the emergency services if needed.
The UK’s telephone network is changing from the current analogue landline system to a new digital network by early 2027. Older community alarm equipment may not work reliably once a telephone line has been switched to digital, so analogue devices need to be upgraded or replaced to ensure the telecare service continues to work safely and reliably.
Judith Proctor, Moray HSCP Chief Officer, said: “Our technology enabled care service helps people remain safe and independent in their own homes, so it’s important that the equipment, like community alarms, continues to work reliably as the UK’s telephone network changes.
“Our staff are working hard to make the transition as smooth as possible. Most of the people we support through the service are already benefiting from digital equipment and we’ll be contacting the remaining individuals over the coming weeks to arrange their upgrade. There is nothing they need to do until we contact them.
“We’re now close to completing the biggest upgrade to our technology enabled care service since it was established. This significant investment will provide a more reliable and resilient service for the people who depend on it today, while giving us the foundation to introduce new digital technologies that can support even more people to live safely and independently at home.”
Moray HSCP is also reminding people to be aware of scams linked to the digital switchover.
Residents should remember:
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- the upgrade or replacement of community alarm equipment is free of charge
- Moray HSCP will never ask for bank details over the phone or when visiting
- Our technicians will always show identification when they arrive
- if you receive an unexpected call and are unsure whether it is genuine, do not share any personal or financial information.
If your telephone provider contacts you about switching your landline to the digital network before your community alarm has been upgraded, tell them that you use a community alarm or technology enabled care service.
Anyone with questions about the digital upgrade, or who is unsure whether a phone call is genuine, should contact the technology enabled care service using the contact details provided in their letter.
Moray Health & Social Care Partnership Communications
