The latest report by the Department of Health and Social Care has been welcomed by care tech company Oysta’s founder Mario Zuccaro who said: “Digital technology is vital to end the lockdown we still impose on elderly people,” adding that increasing the use of technology within social care “is a ‘must have’ if we are to provide a social care service in this country worthy of the name.”

“Getting the right social care solutions is essential to helping to improve the NHS – you cannot fix one without fixing the other. From timely hospital discharges to providing a more active, social way of living to our vulnerable communities, social care is at the very heart of a healthier population.”

Oysta provides technology-enabled care to more than 40 local authorities in England and across Spain, and offers devices and software which allow vulnerable people to remain independent knowing help is at hand via the devices, which include watches and smartphone-style products.

 Zuccaro said: “Most of us have now experienced the very real hardship which being stuck indoors brings, on both our mental and physical health. We have embraced the freedom to go outside and meet once again. But for many elderly people in particular, we are still imposing this requirement for them to stay inside if they want to access the care which is on offer.

 “I don’t think that’s good enough: we should be providing better services and technology gives us the opportunity to do that. We now have more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 15 in this country which is an alarm bell to us all that we need to be moving to alternative ways of providing care and support to people.

“It’s welcome news that the secretary of state has embraced this idea and even better that the solution is already on the market and being used by people around the country and abroad.”