Ground-breaking Falkirk project wins digital transformation award

Falkirk’s Analogue to Digital Telecare Project has been rewarded for safeguarding a life-and-limb service relied upon by thousands of vulnerable people, scooping up the Digital Communities Award at The Herald’s Digital Transformation Awards 2021.

The entry ‘Going digital to save lives!’ was one of six shortlisted in the category which aimed to reward ‘an individual, group or organisation who has used technology to help their local community’.

Job well done

The judges unanimously agreed that Falkirk’s entry was the standout winner, stating they were “very impressed by the work and effort put in by Falkirk Council to ensure the safety of its most vulnerable”.

They recognised that the project had never been done before in Scotland and that working alongside partners Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership the Council had been agile, putting in place new infrastructure and overcoming barriers created by outdated technology.

Innovation

Earlier this year the work of the project team ensured the Council became the first local authority in Scotland to go live with an end-to-end digital telecare service, securing the Gold Level 1 Digital Telecare Implementation Award in March.

Not only has the project broken new ground, but also safeguarded the Council’s life and limb Mobile Emergency Care Service (MECS) relied upon by thousands of vulnerable people.

Making it happen

Analogue to Digital Telecare is just one of 30 Council of the Future projects that aim to transform and modernise services and help the Council deliver on its priorities – Communities, Enterprise, and Innovation.

Speaking about the award, Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Falkirk Council Leader, said: “All those involved in the project have worked tirelessly to make it happen – from the project team itself, to those working in MECS, partner organisations and service users. It really has been a team effort and shows what can be achieved when we work together to create positive change. Congratulations to you all. A well-deserved win.”