A Health & Social Care Partnership is asking the citizens of Dundee to think about how technology can be used to enhance care and healthcare in the city.

Almost 6,000 people in Dundee already use technology to help them live safely in their own homes, and the number is growing.

Today sees the launch of the draft Dundee Smart Health & Care Strategy and an online questionnaire which covers three main themes:

Partnership chair, Councillor Ken Lynn, said: “Technology means some people can stay at home, where they want to be, rather than go into hospital or residential care. But it’s not just about community alarms or epilepsy sensors. It’s about monitoring your own blood pressure, losing weight or stopping smoking. It’s about enabling people living with dementia to get out and about, without fear of getting lost.

“Big changes are coming, and we want the people of Dundee to help us shape the future of technology enabled care.”

Partnership chief executive, David Lynch, added: “We are hoping for a healthy response to this important strategy. We know that Dundee has a high number of people living with two or more long term healthcare conditions. At the same time people are living longer and want to live independently as long as they possibly can.

“Along with family carers, staff and healthcare professionals, technology can make a huge difference. But there are issues to discuss such as privacy, access to the internet and many other questions. We need the people who use our services, and our own workforce, to help us get this right.”