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.'