The rollout of digital community alarm systems across South Lanarkshire is now nearing completion, with more than 6,000 systems already upgraded and fewer than 400 left to transition. The work forms part of a UK-wide shift away from analogue landlines, with local authorities upgrading telecare technology to ensure continuity of care.

The change comes amid a national move by telecom providers to replace traditional copper-wire telephone infrastructure with digital networks by 2025. In response, South Lanarkshire Council launched its Analogue to Digital (A2D) programme, a multi-year effort to ensure that life-saving community alarm systems remain compatible and reliable.

A Lifeline for Thousands

Community alarm systems provide round-the-clock reassurance for vulnerable residents—particularly older people and those living with disabilities. Worn as pendants or wristbands, the alarms connect users to emergency responders at the push of a button, enabling people to live independently in their own homes for longer.

The importance of these devices cannot be overstated. Across the UK, more than 1.7 million people rely on community alarm and telecare systems. In South Lanarkshire alone, thousands of residents use this service as a vital safeguard against medical emergencies, falls, and periods of distress.

Councillor Margaret Walker, Chair of the Council’s Social Work Resources Committee, said:

“Community alarms have been a comfort and a reassurance to many people across South Lanarkshire.

I know that some people may have seen messages recently about the switchover, and I can reassure our service users that if they have not already had their upgrades, it will happen soon.

It is vital that the technology underpinning those resources is fit for the future and so I am delighted at the progress made thanks to the dedication and expertise of our staff.”

Supporting Independence? Or Passing The Bill?

While the benefits of the system are clear—supporting independence, safety, and peace of mind for older adults and those with disabilities—the cost remains a barrier for some. In South Lanarkshire, the annual fee is just over £130, a figure that many pensioners and low-income residents have said feels unaffordable.

Given that older people have contributed into the system for decades through National Insurance and taxation, the question of whether this essential service should be means-tested, subsidised, or free altogether is once again under discussion.

Advocates argue that, much like healthcare and emergency services, access to life-saving alarms should not depend on a person’s ability to pay—particularly in later life or while managing chronic conditions.

Digital Care and Community Trust

The shift to digital systems marks a broader change in how care is delivered and accessed. For many local authorities, it also signals the start of further investment in smart technology that can monitor wellbeing and trigger interventions earlier.

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer for Health and Social Care in South Lanarkshire, said:

“Engaging with our communities is at the core of what we do, and embracing digital technologies is increasingly vital to the way that care is accessed and provided.

My thanks to our community alarm users and our wider communities for their ongoing support as we complete this important programme of work.”

Final Phase Underway

The council expects to complete the final 400 installations by August 2025. Residents who have not yet been upgraded are advised not to worry—they will be contacted directly by council staff or approved contractors. No action is required from the user.

Once complete, the transition will ensure all community alarm users are connected via digitally secure, modern systems, enhancing the council’s ability to respond rapidly and reliably in times of need.

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