Telecare National Action Plan, Protecting telecare users throughout the digital switchover journey

The joint Telecare National Action Plan from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is now out. It supersedes the DHSC Telecare Stakeholder Action Plan.

With the digital switchover to be rolled out by January 2027 for an estimated 2 million people, the plan sets out the actions that stakeholders, including housing providers, must take to safeguard telecare users during the digital phone switchover and actions to deliver against a series of outcomes.

On the housing front, the plan recognises that telecare can be provided as a single unit or as a grouped scheme in supported housing, such as sheltered/retirement housing, extra care housing or supported living as well as helping people to stay independent in their own homes. It explains that “telecare users and those who provide their telecare need to be aware of the risk from the digital phone switchover and take appropriate safeguarding actions”.

The plan also signposts a number of useful tools, resources, and examples of good practice, including the Housing LIN/TSA TAPPI Project, funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust.

If you found this of interest, visit a selection of other resources curated by the Housing LIN on our dedicated smart housing and telecare webpage.