Title

HEALTH

Small minority of councils use digital care services, poll reveals

Only a handful of councils are making full use of digital technology to provide personalised care in people’s homes, according to a group of organisations.

Only a handful of councils are making full use of digital technology to provide personalised care in people's homes, according to an umbrella group of organisations.

TEC Action Alliance said it had found only isolated examples of technology use, and little evidence of integration within the broader social care and health system.

The group's report was based on evidence from more than 2,000 people who use care services and frontline workers and leaders in care, health, housing and local government.

Only 18% of respondents currently use telecare or telehealth services and half of these people use it less than once a week, according to the survey.

The report said digital social care services reduce ambulance trips to A&E by 68%.

Group's co-chair Alyson Scurfield said: ‘At a time of immense pressure on NHS and social care services, digital care services can put power in the hands of people, helping them to self-manage their own health and live the life they want to lead.

‘We've found some pockets of good technology-enabled care but still no national adoption.'

HEALTH

Regulator hits county council with lowest grading

By William Eichler | 12 February 2026

Northumberland CC has been issued with a C4 grading for its social housing - the lowest possible - after an inspection uncovered ‘very serious failings’.

HEALTH

Building budgets around places

By Stephen Taylor | 12 February 2026

Stephen Taylor says that if place-based budgeting is done in the right way, people and communities will have the learning, satisfaction and joy of creating t...

HEALTH

Is it time to inspect homelessness?

By Jack Shaw | 11 February 2026

The Government is already laying much of the groundwork for an ‘Ofsted for homelessness’, says Jack Shaw. He asserts that it should not be afraid to explore ...

HEALTH

Balancing optimism and realism in Wokingham

By Susan Parsonage | 10 February 2026

Susan Parsonage looks at how the revised financial settlement will impact local authorities such as Wokingham and reveals what measures they are taking to me...

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead