Wirral Primary Care Trust (PCT) has been selected as a winner of the North West Health and Social Care Award, in the category of Innovative Health and Social Care Technology. The partnership project involving partner agencies Wirral Council, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Wirral Partnership Homes received the award for an innovative project which has helped more than 500 people in Wirral to stay safe.
The scheme that enables people with a disability in Wirral to continue living at home safely and independently has reached the last three in a major Health and social Care Award.
The Assistive Technology Project is run in partnership by Wirral Primary Care Trust, Wirral Council’s Department of Adult Social Services, Wirral Partnership Homes and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
More than 500 people attended the North West Health and Social Care Awards Ceremony which took place at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on the Evening of Thursday, April 24. The Health and Social Care Awards are the flagship awards of the Department of Health and coincide with the 60th anniversary of the NHS. The team will now go through to the national awards evening being held in July at Wembley Stadium, hosted by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
The service provides equipment such as bed sensors, fall detectors, flood alerts and other specialist equipment to support people who may be frail or have a disability. Equipment may also be provided to patients after they leave hospital as well as supporting their carers.
In the event of someone having a fall or other accident, a range of sensors and detectors that are connected to a 24 hour monitoring centre are activated within seconds.
Trained operators will then immediately alert the key contact person who is best able to assist. The centre is open 365 days a year - so care is available at all times.
Mrs. Hazel Kelly, 75, from Moreton, appeared on the PCT’s DVD release which is available on our website. Hazel said: “I have been really impressed by this scheme. It has made a big impact on my life - I feel so much more secure in the knowledge that people are available to help at the push of a button.
“Thanks to this initiative I feel safer as I have sensors in my bed. If I’m not in bed by 12 pm or out of bed at 9am - they know there could be something wrong. In addition, I have a red pendant around my neck so that if I have a fall, then I can alert people immediately.�
The Chief Executive of Wirral Primary Care Trust, Kathy Doran said: “This has been an extremely rewarding project which has been of real benefit to people who could otherwise have been admitted to residential or nursing care. The scheme has helped to support carers who provide an invaluable role in the community.�
Wirral Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Inclusion, Cllr Moira McLaughlin added: “I would like to congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to make this project such a magnificent success. It is just recognition of a tremendous partnership which makes a difference to the lives of many people.�
As from the end of March 2008, a total of 504 people had benefited from the installation of ‘Assistive Technology’, to enable them to remain safe and independent within their own home. A total of 1,412 pieces of equipment had been provided and installed.
For more information about the assistive technology service contact the Central Advice Duty team on 0151 606 2006.
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