Static Systems Group has completed a ‘live’ site-wide upgrade to the nurse call system at Queen’s Hospital in Burton for the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust in just over three years, rather than the anticipated 4-5 years.
Queen’s Hospital, an acute 450-bedded hospital serving around 360,000 residents of Burton upon Trent and the surrounding areas, had over 40 existing nurse call systems, including conventionally wired Static Systems equipment in place for some 25 years. With much of the equipment becoming obsolete, maintenance costs rising, and equipment failure increasing, the Trust recognised the need for a complete system upgrade.
Static Systems was appointed to replace every nurse call system, in a live, fully occupied hospital environment, with its Codemlon loop wired addressable nurse call system identified as the best solution. Using Codemlon meant the containment and back boxes in most of the hospital’s existing nurse call systems could be re-used, reducing replacement costs, and minimising disruption during installation. As Codemlon offers radio sound entertainment, the Trust could continue providing patients with free-to-access radio, controlled through the nurse call patient hand units.
A wireless nurse call system was deployed during the wired system’s upgrade to provide continuity and enable Static Systems’ engineers to work in a live ward, a bay at a time. In each ward, the engineers undertook the upgrade, swapped over from the existing to the new equipment, and provided demonstrations on how to use the new system. The temporary wireless system was then removed by estates staff ready for use in the next area. The hospital’s various ward-based systems were connected together using the Trust’s own LAN, enabling the Trust to transfer calls between adjacent wards / departments.
To ‘futureproof’ the system, the Trust requested provision be made for incorporating ‘Fusion Analytics’ software – which it will use to collate and analyse data to demonstrate efficiency and levels of patient care at a later date.
Two satellite community hospitals will also be connected to the event logging server. The technology will enable Static Systems to gain remote access to undertake technical support and provide advice to the hospital.
Steve Clark, Project manager at Static Systems, said: “A significant number of Static Systems’ contracts are repeat business with long-standing customers, and the Queen’s Hospital upgrade is a good example. We’ve looked after the Burton Campus for the past 25 years, and as a result of the high level of service we’ve provided, and of our Codemlon nurse call solution’s proven track record, the Trust appointed us for this project.”
James Chadwick, head of Facilities & Capital Developments, Burton Campuses, at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, added: “Having worked with Static Systems for many years, we were confident that it would deliver a reliable and effective solution for this large-scale upgrade. The new system’s installation was seamless, with only very minimal disruption to ward operations. Feedback from the ward staff on the new systems has been very good, with staff finding them to be easy to operate and keep clean. The solution that Static Systems has put in place allows for future expansion of the building, and plans are already in place to integrate the nurse call system with further ‘modular’ buildings over the coming months. This migration has saved the Trust around £24,000 per annum on call-outs and repairs.”
