Help Chichester Careline celebrate its 30th birthday

People from all over Sussex are also invited to attend the celebrations and find out if the range of services can benefit them or a family member.

Chichester Careline, which is run by Chichester District Council (CDC), has so far supported more than one million people, operating every single hour of every day for the past three decades.

From its 24-hour monitoring centre in Florence Road, trained staff answer the lifeline calls for district and borough councils all across West Sussex as well as hundreds of miles away.

The centre deals with 2,500 calls each day, helping people right across the Chichester district, Horsham, Adur, Arun, Crawley, Worthing, Gosport, Fareham, Waverley, Guildford.

Staff also monitor housing associations and sheltered accommodation in West and East Sussex, Hampshire, London, Kent, Dorset and even Scarborough.

Chichester Careline supports people with a range of conditions such as multiple sclerosis, dementia and epilepsy who are given instant access to support when they need it most.

Many people without a medical condition also use the service for the peace of mind it gives to them and their family.

One press of the button on a person’s lifeline device alerts Chichester Careline that there’s a potential problem, and trained staff at the centre can then talk to them through a speaker and call out emergency services if required.

One of the many people who benefit from the service is Tricia O’Brien, who has multiple sclerosis.

Tricia’s Canine Partner dog Bowsie has been trained to press the lifeline button when she falls ill.

“The service is fantastic,” she said. “My mother and father passed away a long time ago, but I wish they’d had the opportunity to access a service like this, it would have made such a difference.

“I keep telling other people about the service and many of them are now using it.”

Tricia is also now using Chichester Careline’s ‘Mindme’ device, which will locate her wherever she is and enable her to dial into the centre if she feels ill when she’s out and about.

She said: “Having both devices, plus the invaluable support from my dog Bowsie, who can also press my Mindme alarm, has given my son so much more reassurance.”

Being run by Chichester District Council, staff are also trained to signpost people to any other council services they may be entitled to.

People from all over the south can benefit from the range of services and are being invited to find out more at the open day on Thursday, July 9, between 10am-3pm, at the centre in Florence Road, Chichester.

For more details or information, call 01243 778688 or visit www.chichestercareline.org

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