Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network - SPAN

SPAN (Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network) is an alarm system aimed to help older or disabled people to live independently in their own homes. Individuals are linked to our Care Centre which can provide help 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The Care Centre holds details of friends and/or family and will contact someone should the alarm be activated. They can also contact emergency services should this be required.

Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network application form

Who can benefit from SPAN?

Anyone who feels vulnerable in their own home can benefit from the service. There is no limit to who can benefit from the SPAN alarm service. Some of our clients include:

• older people who want to continue to manage at home independently but may be concerned about having a fall either in the daytime or at night
• people who want to carry on gardening but are afraid they might fall or feel unwell
• a person going into hospital for a major operation who will need an effective communication system when they come out
• a wheelchair user worried about making tricky manoeuvres
• a person fighting a terminal or degenerative illness and feeling too tired to cope

Why use SPAN?

There are many reasons why people call SPAN for example in a medical emergency, when reliable help is needed in their home or as an aid to deter unwanted bogus callers.

SPAN can also help to improve personal safety. We work closely with Surrey Police who support SPAN and recommend its use as a deterrent against break-ins. If you are suspicious of unusual noises or by the presence of a stranger, simply press the pendant and let the operator contact the Police.

How much will it cost?

There is a small weekly charge of £4.30 (approximately £22.36 per month (10 months only) or £55.90 per quarter), payable monthly or quarterly in advance.  GSM alarms cost £6 per week (approximately £31.20 per month (10 months only) or £78 per quarter). Payments are made  (select 'Sales Ledger Invoices'), by direct debit or at the Post Office. We do not accept cash or cheques.

How does it work?

All you need is a modern push in telephone socket and a three-pin power socket nearby. A lightweight pendant is supplied with the unit which can be worn on a cord around the neck or clipped onto clothing. By pressing the button on the pendant you will automatically make a telephone call to the care centre. This pendant can work from anywhere within an average sized house or garden. There is also a large red button on the alarm unit that will act in the same way as the pendant.

The Care Centre is staffed 24 hours a day by friendly efficient operators who are trained to get help for you straight away. If the individual is unable to speak when raising the alarm, the operator will still know who the caller is and raise the alarm immediately.

What do we ask from you?

In order to complete the online form you will need to provide us with the following information:

• whether you have a BT or Virgin telephone line
• the type of property you live in (house/bungalow/flat etc)
• brief details of any medical condition of which the Care Centre should be aware (ie epilepsy, diabetes, breathing difficulties etc) so they can respond appropriately
• the name of your doctor
• the name, address and telephone number of your next of kin
• the names, addresses and telephone numbers (including any work or mobile phone numbers) of those people who would hold keys to your property. We would also ask you to please confirm the willingness of any key-holder to respond if necessary. Please make sure keys have been given to your key-holders before we install the alarm
• if you do not have a telephone land line GSM alarms are available which work with an integrated mobile sim

We require a minimum of two key-holders, or one if a KeySafe is fitted to your property and we are aware of the combination. Please contact us for more information on KeySafes.

Please advise us if your SPAN alarm is to be used in conjunction with answer phones, faxes or broadband.

Upon installation of the alarm you will enter into an agreement with the Council who will guarantee maintenance of the equipment.

A SPAN technician will visit you annually to provide information and advice and to also update any personal information we may hold on you. The Technician will double check your equipment when they visit you. As part of your service contract, we request that you make a test call each month.