Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the need for mandatory accreditation services for the installation of telecare devices.

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that telecare devices are safe, reliable, and fit for purpose, particularly as services transition from analogue to digital connectivity.

The Department is currently developing non‑statutory telecare commissioning guidance to support local authorities and other commissioners to procure services that are safe, resilient, and future‑proofed. This guidance sets out expectations around quality and safety, and signposts to relevant standards and frameworks. It will support commissioners and buyers to consider installation specifically as part of the service they are procuring.

Sector-led telecare accreditation schemes, such as the Tech Services Association Quality Standard’s Framework, also exist and can act as a signal of quality and safety for those procuring telecare.

No decision has been taken on introducing mandatory telecare standards or accreditation at this time. The Department will continue to keep this under review as the evidence base develops, with a focus on ensuring proportionate and effective protections for people who rely on telecare services.