Peace of mind in the form of a small red button, is common in Buckley. Carelink is connected to a standard landline, it is a lifeline to care services, a silent guardian angel on the wall. However BT has allowed residents to be switched over to digital lines, without the necessary safety checks to confirm the critical support systems.
A resident was switched over and left for 3 days without connection to phones nor emergency button, as Carelink simply wouldn’t function on a digital line, without hardware changes. For three agonizing days, trapped in her home, alone and with limited mobility, anxiety mounted with each passing hour. Its only because Buckley still has some great community spirit did her neighbour notice her from the window asking for help.
BT showed cold disregard for those left behind in the digital dust. We contacted BT directly, voicing our concerns and highlighting the potential dangers of a blanket rollout without considering the needs of vulnerable residents, with the old phone network to be completely switched off in 2025.
If any residents, with Carelink alarm, are approached by BT to upgrade their line, please advised no and speak to the Carelink team in advance.
Cllr Dan Rose
BT and other providers, facing mounting pressure, announced a temporary pause in their ISDN phase-out plan for those with Carelink attached. This pause will give Carelink time to change all their devices prior to the digital switch over, while giving some peace of mind to other Buckley residents that they’ll not be placed in such a horrible situation.
This is not an isolated incident. Across the UK, thousands of elderly and disabled individuals rely on ISDN-powered lifelines. The potential consequences of a hasty switch are dire, leaving many feeling abandoned and forgotten in the face of technological advancement.
