Disruptions reported in home care emergency services across South Karelia in Finland

The South Karelia well-being district has reported disruptions in home care’s emergency phone and wristwatch services. Issues have been identified in Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, as well as in Imatra and Lappeenranta, close to the Russian border. GPS-equipped emergency wristwatches have shown inaccuracies in location data, meaning that real-time tracking of clients may not be consistently possible. Additionally, disruptions in emergency phone services have affected call connections and audio quality, which could delay the arrival of emergency responders.

Irina Snellman, Director of Functional and Care Services, stated, “While the disruptions have not yet led to any serious incidents, we believe it is essential to inform our clients about the situation.” The exact cause of the GPS issues remains unclear. The well-being district is working with service providers and authorities to investigate the matter.

According to Snellman, the disruptions have persisted for one to two months and have gradually worsened. “We want to act proactively and understand these issues before any incidents occur,” she added.