Progress towards the January 2027 digital phone switchover: Join this workshop discussion

In February 2025, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published the Telecare National Action Plan, which set out the actions needed by stakeholders to safeguard telecare users during the digital phone switchover.

As part of evaluating progress, the Local Government Association (LGA) (opens new window) is hosting a discussion to help understand to what extent LAs and housing providers will have upgraded their telecare alarms to digital by January 2027 when the digital phone switchover is complete.

They are particularly interested in:

• Progress upgrading group scheme alarms (ie where individual alarms in people’s rooms/homes are linked into an alarm unit for the building), rather than individual standalone, also known as “dispersed” alarms. They know there have been delays from some manufacturers in having their digital solutions ready for group schemes (especially converters/adapters/bridges). They are keen to hear whether these issues are now resolved, or whether LAs and housing providers are continuing to experience issues with this, and whether LAs expect their group scheme alarms will be digital (including through the use of converters or adapters) by January 2027

• Telecare alarms and housing – they're interested in hearing from LAs who have been upgrading telecare in LA housing stock, but also LAs who have been working to encourage housing partners to upgrade their telecare and whether this will be complete by January 2027.

They are keen to hear from LAs who have been able to progress in their transition to digital telecare, but also interested to hear from LAs who have been experiencing difficulties and challenges.

To register for the discussion, please email socialcaredigital@local.gov.uk.