Tunstall Healthcare issues important safety notice for Lifeline Vi and Vi+ units with lithium-ion batteries

Technology-enabled care (TEC) specialist Tunstall Healthcare has issued an important safety notice for all Lifeline Vi and Vi+ units that have been produced from October 2019 onwards.

In October 2019, the units were modified to include a lithium-ion battery.

The provider says it has recently received a number of reports regarding the reliability of the lithium-ion back-up battery in these units.

There have been four instances reported globally (two in the UK and two in Spain) where units that contained a lithium-ion battery have overheated and ruptured, resulting in damage to the unit and, in one case, a scorched carpet.

There have been no injuries or house fires reported in connection with any of these incidents. In at least two of these instances, the hub has been situated in close proximity to external heat sources.

It is possible that the batteries could be an ignition source and present a burn hazard, Tunstall Healthcare cautions.

Units supplied before October 2019 are not affected by this issue.

Now, Tunstall Healthcare is conducting an in-depth technical and quality investigation and health hazard assessment, working with its battery supplier and external independent experts. Updates with findings from the investigation will be provided “as soon as possible”. A progress update is set to be provided this week (12 December 2022).

In the meantime, Tunstall Healthcare has issued some instructions for customers and installers to follow in its user guide and installation instructions.

Action required:

• Ensure all Lifeline Vi and Vi+ units are located as per installation and user guide recommendations.
• Units should be located in a well-ventilated space and not be placed on or near a source of heat. Heat sources may include radiators, direct sunlight, heaters, internet and TV boxes.
• Do not place objects that create significant noise and/or heat, or objects that are made of metal close to, underneath, or on top of the home unit. For example, televisions, radios, microwaves, Wi-Fi routers, mobile phones, and computers.
• Do not place near flammable materials.
• Inform Tunstall Healthcare of any reports from customers that may relate to this issue.

The user and installation guide for the product can be found here.

To raise any safety concerns directly, people are advised to contact Tunstall Healthcare directly at Safety@Tunstall.com

For further details about how to identify Lifeline Vi and Vi+ units affected by this issue, there are more details on this page.