Written Question · S5W-30846 · Session 5
What discussions it has had with assistive technology equipment providers to ensure that disabled people and their families and carers are …
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with assistive technology equipment providers to ensure that disabled people and their families and carers are able to use technology to its full potential at home, particularly during the current pandemic.
The answer
Assistive technology support is largely provided by local authorities, housing providers and third sector organisations. The majority of the support provided is via telecare services which has been a well-established lifeline for disabled or elderly people for a long time. Local Authorities have trained teams who support people to utilise technology at home, for example to use their red button service for specific help or other helpful technologies which can remind people to take important medicines or bring on the lights automatically when getting in and out of bed. Guidance on telecare was issued at the start of the pandemic for local authority providers and to ensure that suitable support was in place to continue to deliver a sustained service. Digital has played an important role in the response to Covid-19, for example through NHS Near Me video consulting which was designed with users to be intuitive and easy to use while also being accessible through technology that many people have in the palm of their hands. This way of developing and designing services has been important in supporting the scale of adoption that we have seen to date.
Part 4 of the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 ] also places a duty on health boards to provide or secure the provision of communication equipment, and the support in using that equipment, to any person who has lost their voice or has difficulty speaking. Scottish Government officials have been in contact with the NHS national service
- Scottish Centre for Technology for Communication Impaired (SCTCI)
- to hear how they are meeting the challenges faced during the pandemic. SCTCI (and other specialist services who hold the legislative duty) advise that services have continued to be available during this time, subject to necessary adaptations of processes and procedures to ensure compliance with all relevant Covid-19 guidance on infection prevention and control.
Part 4 of the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 ] also places a duty on health boards to provide or secure the provision of communication equipment, and the support in using that equipment, to any person who has lost their voice or has difficulty speaking. Scottish Government officials have been in contact with the NHS national service
- Scottish Centre for Technology for Communication Impaired (SCTCI)
- to hear how they are meeting the challenges faced during the pandemic. SCTCI (and other specialist services who hold the legislative duty) advise that services have continued to be available during this time, subject to necessary adaptations of processes and procedures to ensure compliance with all relevant Covid-19 guidance on infection prevention and control.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-30846 by reference.