TUNSTALL Healthcare, which employs about 600 people in Whitley Bridge near Selby, is to make 15 staff redundant.

The business, which provides technology to enable elderly and sick people to receive healthcare treatment remotely, said it needed to reorganise after expanding the business.

Tunstall has employed more than 30 new workers in the last year, during which it increased earnings by 25 per cent. It has also grown by 1,000 employees and 120,000 more users of its telehealth services after acquiring American Medical Alert Corp (AMAC) and Nordic business STT Condigi.

It said it hoped it could avoid compulsory redundancies by offering an enhanced voluntary package.

In a statement, the business said: “It is fair to say that the global economic climate continues to bring challenges. These challenges have also brought opportunities, particularly in the managed services part of the business which has resulted in substantial growth. However, the organisation has had to rebalance its operational workforce.”

Simon Arnold, managing director UK and Ireland, said: “It is always very disappointing when people leave us, particularly as we are such a close-knit local community.

“However the UK market for telehealth and telecare is changing. This change has all been about balancing our resources to meet the demands of customers.”