PASA

PASA applies to NHS services, not local government and housing associations, which is where the bulk of the spend on telecare occurs. Moreover, getting a PASA (now OGC) badge does not necessarily mean that your products or services are good quality; merely that they have passed a minimum standard threshold. In my opinion that standard has been set too low and insufficient work has been done to ensure that telecare products or the supporting services are effective at meeting complex needs, where the biggest cost savings against alternative services can be made.

Every part of this industry needs a shake-up to improve the procurement and applications processes. For too much of the time people are simply buying boxes of kit to tick boxes, whether or not they will be used effectively.

PASA may be goood for the NHS's bank balance, but I fear it makes commissioners lazy at managing the procurement process to get the right product for the purpose.