You’ve done the hard part….You’ve read the headlines, understood the January 2027 deadline, and recognised that your care home has a deeper dependency on analogue lines than most businesses ever will. That awareness is powerful.
Even as Openreach confirms the October 2026 price doubling for unmigrated lines and the final Prove Telecare testing clears the path for full digital rollout, you now hold the stability you need. The switch-off is no longer an unknown risk — it’s a defined timeline with clear solutions already available from forward-thinking telecom partners.
Now it’s time to turn that knowledge into real protection — a complete picture of every hidden analogue system in your building, turned into CQC-ready evidence and a simple migration plan that keeps residents safe and your operations uninterrupted.
This is Part 2 of the Infrastructure Alert series: a practical, no-cost 7-day audit that hundreds of care providers are already using to uncover every legacy dependency and build a compliance shield that impresses inspectors while future-proofing care.
No expensive consultants. No disruption to residents. Just clear, actionable steps you can finish this week.
Step 1: Run the 7-Day PSTN Dependency Audit (Takes 2–3 hours total)
Request our free one-page PSTN Dependency Scorecard and walk your building once during the day shift and once at night. Score each system out of 10 for analogue reliance and resilience.
Focus on these six areas — we’ve ranked them by risk level and included the exact supplier questions that the best telecom partners are already equipped to answer.
The 6 Critical Areas to Audit (Ranked by Risk)
- Telecare & Personal Alarms (Highest risk) Every pendant, pull cord and dispersed alarm is still on analogue. Check battery back-up and dual-path capability. Key question for providers: “Can your digital solution guarantee the same 24/7 resilience with zero single point of failure?”
- Nurse Call & Pendant Systems, Bedhead units, staff handsets and door-entry intercoms. Many are still analogue, even if the main panel looks modern. Key question: “Does your platform support full Ofcom-compliant digital voice with seamless fall-back during power cuts?”
- Lift Emergency Phones & Intercoms. Often forgotten until the test fails. These must remain functional in total power loss. Key question: “What UPS and battery specifications does your solution include to meet BS EN 81-28 standards?”
- Fire & Intruder Alarm Signalling Redcare, DualCom or similar PSTN-based monitoring. Key question: “How does your digital replacement deliver the same 99.99% uptime and immediate police/fire response?”
- Door Entry & Access Control: External buzzers and internal entry phones are still routed through the old network. Key question: “Can your IP-based system integrate with existing hardware, or will we need a full replacement?”
- Legacy Fax, Payment Terminals & Backup Telephony Pharmacies, GP communications and emergency fax lines that still rely on analogue. Key question: “What simple digital alternatives do you offer that require zero retraining for staff?”
Power Resilience & Broadband Health Check (Do this on Day 2)
Test every critical system during a simulated power cut (use the building’s UPS or generator). Confirm your broadband has true dual-path (fibre + 4G/5G backup). The strongest digital solutions on the market today are already designed exactly for this — and the right partners will prove it in minutes.
Turning Your Audit into CQC-Ready Evidence
Every completed scorecard becomes gold-standard Well-led and Safe evidence. Use the same language regulators love: “100% of analogue-dependent systems identified and risk-rated = 247 resident-safety hours protected per year.”
Add the findings straight into your risk register and governance file. CQC inspectors are already asking for exactly this level of proactive planning.
Real Result – One Home’s Story
A 38-bed home in the North West ran the audit in just one afternoon last week. They discovered three hidden analogue systems (lift phone, fire signalling and an old pharmacy fax line) that nobody on site knew were still live. Within days, they had chosen a compliant digital partner and locked in migration dates well before the October price rise. Their words: “We thought we were ready — the audit showed us we were only half-ready. Now we’re fully in control and the CQC team were genuinely impressed.”
Your 30-Day Action Plan
Week 1: Complete the full PSTN Dependency Scorecard audit.
Week 2: Send the supplier questions to your current providers
Week 3: Review responses and shortlist digital-ready partners
Week 4: Schedule site visits or virtual demonstrations and update your risk register
What’s Next? Part 3 – Compatibility Testing & Supplier Roadmap
We’ll show you exactly how to test digital solutions side-by-side, compare costs without hidden surprises, and choose the right migration partner that delivers seamless 24/7 resilience — all without a single day of downtime.
Until then, remember: you’ve already taken the biggest step by recognising the hidden dependency. This audit is the multiplier that turns potential risk into a genuine governance strength and protects the care your residents deserve.
You’re not just meeting a deadline — you’re building systems that will serve your home for the next decade and beyond.
We’re here to support you through this reset — whatever stage you’re at. If you would like to receive our full PSTN Readiness Guide (a practical compilation of checklists, templates and sector benchmarks from the series so far), or if you have questions, insights from your own experience, or topics you’d like us to cover in future features, please email
We read every message personally and are happy to provide tailored support, answer specific questions, or discuss the best approach to your situation. Your experience matters to the wider sector, so feel free to share what’s working (or not working) for you — it helps us shape the rest of this series to be as useful as possible.
— The Care Circle Network Team
