Charges for Newham’s telecare service, which provides 24/7 support to vulnerable residents, are set to rise to help pay for a switch from analogue to digital before the national phone network is turned off.
2,536 residents currently use the service. Under the proposals, weekly charges for basic and enhanced telecare would increase by £1, and by £2.50 for sheltered housing residents. The council also proposes a total weekly telecare charge increase of 10% in the next financial year (2027/28), followed by a minimum of 5% in subsequent years.
A report dated 3 November 2026 recommended that Michael Kelleher, the council’s Director of Housing Services, agree to invest up to £337,000 in the move to digital. The national analogue telephone network is scheduled to be switched off at the end of January 2027, which would make existing telecare equipment unreliable. Analogue equipment stopped being installed for new service users in July 2026.
Failure to complete the digital switchover before the shutdown could lead to delayed emergency responses and increased safeguarding risks.
The upgrade will replace 866 analogue units for Newham residents and upgrade infrastructure at five sheltered housing schemes. This covers basic users (pendant only), enhanced telecare users (with extra equipment such as falls detectors and bed or door sensors), and standalone users (equipment monitored by family or friends). The new digital equipment works via a SIM card in the alarm unit or a broadband connection.
The total capital expenditure includes £138,000 for replacing community telecare equipment and £198,782 for sheltered housing upgrades.
Benchmarking against neighbouring boroughs and independent telecare providers indicates that, following the proposed increases, Newham’s charges will remain broadly comparable with or below those charged elsewhere.
The digital switchover should help ensure continuity of service and resident safety, supporting the council’s priority of a healthier Newham and improving satisfaction with care services.
The digital switchover should help ensure continuity of service and resident safety, supporting the council's priority of a healthier Newham and improving satisfaction with care services.
