Improving the quality of telecare services ‐ the role of audit and training

There is a significant body of evidence from small‐scale trials and pilot studies that show telecare services can be cost‐effective as well as popular with service users and their carers. However, the results of serious external audits and evaluations suggest that many services are inefficient and that telecare technology prescriptions are not always optimised. This appears to be the case especially when referral numbers are small and when many staff are asked to match technology to identified risk. The emerging best practice is for much greater emphasis on making professional staff and members of the public aware of the potential of the technology, and then using a small, highly‐trained and experienced team to ensure that telecare solutions are person‐centred and tailored to the individual's needs. A major gap in training for these teams has been identified.