Lifeline And Responder Service Used By Thousands Over Festive Period

While many people were enjoying the Christmas break and bringing in the New Year the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Lifeline and Responder Service were handling thousands of calls from its most vulnerable customers.

Between Christmas Eve, on Sunday 24 December 2017 and Tuesday 2 January 2018, staff at the Lifeline Control Centre, in Driffield dealt with a total of 9,241 incoming and outgoing calls.

Out of these calls 43 required the emergency services and 234 required a Lifeline community responder to attend, of which 90 were as a result of a person falling.

The specialist lifting equipment used by the community responders was used on 31 occasions to help those that had fallen.

Of the incoming calls 97.8% were answered within one minute, and 99.83% were answered within three minutes.

Councillor Richard Harrap, council portfolio holder for adult and carer services, said:

“These latest statistics from the Christmas and New Year period demonstrate just what a well used and vital service the Lifeline and Responder service is, providing around the clock help and support to some of the East Riding’s most vulnerable residents.

“The service also provides essential peace of mind at all times of day and night to customer’s loved ones, something which is invaluable at this time of year.”

The Lifeline and Responder Service is available to anyone of any age who is need of help and reassurance to enable them to continue living as independently and as safely as possible in their own home.

They offer a wide range of services which include support to people with dementia, disabilities or mobility, people who have been discharged from hospital, have social care needs, people at risk of domestic violence, racial harassment, repeat victimisation or distraction burglary and safeguarding its own council staff working across the East Riding.

The service also gives carers respite by taking away the need for those all-important ‘just in case’ checks which are instead carried out by the Lifeline and Responder Service as required.

With the use of Telecare enabled technology the service awaits calls and responds by contacting a family member, neighbour, doctor, Lifeline responder or the emergency services depending on the requirements of the person concerned.