Swindon council to consider changes to Homeline safety alarm programme

Swindon Borough Council will meet next week to consider changes to its Homeline service, that provides personal alarms to vulnerable people in the community.

The scheme supports more than 3,000 people in Swindon to stay safe and independent in their own homes.

It has 24-hour monitoring and in-person response when an alarm is pressed.

The main proposal for change includes getting a specialist external provider to continue delivering the service.

A public consultation has been held, which received more than a thousand responses.

Most showed strong support for Homeline, and opposed both a telephone-only model and the closure of the service.

The council says the current model is not clinically-led, and staff have no access to medical equipment or information about patients.

They also say they are supporting more people with increased frailty and specialised needs.

A report, out on 1 July, also recommends removing Homeline as a mandatory part of council tenancies - where tenants would opt in, and only pay if they need it.

Councillor Matty Courtliff is Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Property.

He said: “It is vital that the service continues to meet its users’ needs.

“We have consulted with Homeline users and their families, and we understand how valued it is, which is why we need to guarantee a sustainable future for it."

Councillor Vinay Manro, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, added: “As people’s health and care needs become more complex, it’s essential that services like Homeline are better connected to the wider health and care system."

“These proposals will help us continue to enhance the service, ensuring residents receive timely, appropriate support while helping them to remain safe, independent and connected to the care they need for longer. “

The council insists there will be no immediate changes to how residents access the service for the moment.