The Mobile Emergency Care Service (MECS) is provided by Social Services to enable vulnerable people and their carers to call for assistance in an emergency at any time, day or night.
This service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
You can be referred to the service for an assessment by your GP or Community Care Worker, or if you wish, you or your family can make a self referral by phoning the team direct on 01259 226833.
Once an assessment has been carried out by a Technology Enabled Care Worker to identify if you would benefit from being connected to this service, a support worker will visit you at home to install a unit which connects to the contact centre through an in-built SIM card (you no longer need to have a telephone line to access the service). The support worker will check your property for a mobile signal and also explain how to operate the unit in the event of an emergency.
Once you have signalled for help, an operator can speak to you through your unit to establish what the problem is. You do not have to lift your telephone to make contact. Contact centre staff will speak to you though your MECS unit and arrange for the assistance you require. Depending on your needs this could be to arrange for medical assistance, call your family or a friend or to ask a telecare responder to attend.
Even if you are unable to communicate verbally through your unit, the contact centre will arrange help for you.
Once a unit is installed, a support worker will visit you occasionally to ensure your equipment continues to function properly.
The Mobile Emergency Service is able to provide a range of solutions which can be installed to support your care at home. The installation of the equipment would be arranged following a full assessment.
Examples of equipment include
The use of the equipment can help maintain independence and reduce carer anxiety.
A charge of £4.30 per week is made for MECS equipment. In certain circumstances charges may be waived.
You can pay via direct debit, or opt to pay quarterly (every 3 months) following receipt of invoice. Charges will be in arrears.
In order to request access to this service, you should contact the Technology Enabled Care Team using the details below.
Technology Enabled Care Team
Ludgate House, Mar Place, Alloa, FK10 2AD
Tel: 01259 226833 / 450000
Email: ludgateadmin@clacks.gov.uk