O2 Health on Wednesday announced that its mobile monitoring service, Help at Hand, is going on sale at its U.K. stores.
Launched in March 2012, the service consists of a specially-designed device equipped with a fall detector and GPS tracking that connects to a dedicated, permanently staffed call centre in the event of an emergency.
Until today, Help at Hand was available via the NHS and local councils to people living with long-term conditions. Now though it is going on sale at O2 stores, its Website, and select retailers including the pharmacy counters at 100 branches of supermarket Sainsbury’s.
“We truly believe that this service can give vulnerable people and those with health conditions the freedom and independence that they deserve, whilst freeing up more time for those who care for them,” said Nikki Flanders, who was appointed U.K. managing director of O2 Health in January.
Research carried out by O2 Health in the U.K. revealed that adults who care for friends or family with health conditions collectively spend 196 million hours worrying about them every week, she said.
The Help at Hand device comes with an upfront fee of £99, while the service costs £20 per month.
“Hundreds of people have already used Help at Hand and have given us great feedback,” said Flanders. “They say it has allowed them to do things that they thought they never could before, giving them a brighter outlook on their future.”
Nikki Flanders recently told us about the opportunities she sees in the U.K. healthcare sector. Read about them in February’s Total Telecom+.