Above: The City Council’s Care and Response team manage thousands of requests for help every month
New figures show that Milton Keynes City Council’s Care and Response team, who provide essential help to thousands of local people so they can continue to live independently, had their busiest ever year in 2023.
The 20-strong team answered almost 218,000 calls from people in need during the year and assisted 1,968 vulnerable people who had fallen, potentially avoiding hundreds of calls to 999.
As well as giving advice and reassurance over the phone around the clock 7 days a week, the trained team make hundreds of home visits every month, often to visit a caller if they’ve had a fall or other difficulties.
They’ll use their expert judgement about whether to alert emergency services alongside contacting family members.
The team also provides ‘peace of mind’ equipment including alarm units, personal pendants, fall sensors, medication reminders, and bogus caller buttons.
“This dedicated team works day and night to help people live independently. As our vital NHS and ambulance services face increasing pressure, our Care and Response team are there to offer that extra reassurance for people in need. They’re not just an emotional lifeline but, on many occasions, they provide immediate help that prevents the need for hospital admission.”
Local people can find out more about the services on offer by calling 01908 222 616 or emailing careandresponse@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
Above: Smokey the cat is the 21st member of the team and lives at the control centre