THE leader of Hampshire County Council has committed to continuing investment in new technology to help the thousands of residents who need support from adult social care each year.

The Hampshire Innovate conference at the Guildhall, in Winchester brought together designers and developers to highlight the latest innovations in assistive technology, earlier this month.

Mr Perry praised the county council’s award-winning telehealth care partnership with PA Consulting’s Argenti telecare consortium.

Mr Perry said he was proud of the partnership, adding: “The world of technology is moving rapidly, bringing significant benefits to the way people live their lives.

“With Hampshire’s older population growing rapidly in number, and many people living with long-term health conditions, technology is becoming an increasingly critical part of the way we support people to remain living as independently as possible, for as long as possible. The difference it can make is often life changing, so we will continue to invest in providing support in this most effective, less intrusive and cost-efficient way.”

Some 6,500 Hampshire residents currently benefit from telecare alarm systems and sensors to support them to continue living independently at home.

“Many residents are elderly, but a growing number of younger adults with learning disabilities are benefitting from the support this technology can provide in helping them to lead independent and productive lives.

The Hampshire Innovate conference was organised by PA Consulting and compered by Maggie Philbin, former presenter of the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World TV prog- ramme and president of the Institute of Engineering Designers. It brought together national and local technology providers with Hampshire health and social care professionals to demonstrate the technology that is available today, with a ‘tomorrow’s world’ glimpse of what could be available in the future.

PA Consulting Group’s social care expert Steve Carefull told The Herald afterwards: “This year’s event builds on the success of Hants Innovate 2015 and we’re really pleased with how it went.

“Our aim is to increase understanding about what technology can do to enable vulnerable people to live independent lives.

“With a dozen technology developers and more than 150 senior health and social care commissioners and providers present, we were able to generate some very insightful and positive discussions.”