Vulnerable residents and pensioners are to be charged £150 per year for the Telecare alarm system
The Sunderland City Council operated rapid-response service, which provides an 'invaluable lifeline' to sick and frail residents, is currently free to an estimated 13,000 customers.
But the council, which must find £37m savings over the next financial year, said it has been forced to review the service and introduce the £12.50 a month charge.
The service provides an alarm system for homes linked to a control room in case of an emergency.
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