The change continues the commitment to help support people stay at home independently, with digital technology playing a part in helping them do so.

And the council has been recognised for its work by being awarded the Bronze Digital Telecare Implementation Award by Digital Telecare for Scottish Local Government.

This award is in recognition of the South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership having successfully deployed digital-ready alarm devices to more than 50% of all alarm users.

This is the first major milestone in the transition to digital telecare and sets the foundations upon which the rest of the digital telecare transition will rest.

There are more than 7,100 community alarm systems across South Lanarkshire which need to be upgraded to digital in time for the analogue telephone system being switched off in the UK in 2025.

Chair of the council’s Social Work Resources Committee, Councillor Margaret Walker, said: “I’m delighted at the progress that is being made in delivering digital telecare to thousands of people across South Lanarkshire.

“This recognition emphasises the continued ambition and commitment of our staff to enhance the support available despite continued, unprecedented and severe financial challenges.

“The award highlights the hard work that has been done so far, and our continued commitment to ensuring our telecare systems are fit for purpose moving forward.”

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Director, Health and Social Care, South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “It’s a huge achievement for the highly skilled team driving this development alongside colleagues right across the council.

“We are committed to providing a reliable service to all those who require telecare support in our community.

“This is what people in our communities are telling us – that they want the support mechanisms in place to allow them to stay in their homes with as much independence as possible.”