NURSE CALL SYSTEMS John Polhill – National Sales Manager, Courtney-Thorne Ltd
Wireless: signalling greater flexibility
John Polhill from nurse call specialist, Courtney-Thorne, explains why nurse call systems need to enhance the flexibility of hospital environments in order to future proof them and how this is being driven in the UK by the need to comply with Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 08-03 which governs bedhead services.
In the UK, the ProCure21+ initiative has been established as an urgent agenda to create a homogenous blueprint for the ideal healthcare environment. The initiative’s six Principal Supply Chain Partners (PSCPs) have been set the task of establishing how greater flexibility can be built into UK hospitals in a way that is both cost-effective and suitable for replication across a wide ranging legacy estate and the varying requirements of different locations and demographics. In a sector where nothing remains static,
total consistency is not viable. Developments in technology, fluctuations in patient demand, restructuring within hospitals or National Health Service (NHS) Trusts, Government policy, infection control… there are so many triggers for change that, even if a standardised model could be agreed, it would be affected by the need for change before it could be put into practice. However, there are some elements of
hospital design and specification that can be applied as best practice across all refurbishment, extension and new build projects, many of which are already in common use within the most progressive hospital environments. Among these key areas of specification are advanced nurse call systems. The choice of technology here can influence both functionality and future flexibility. The PSCPs’ conclusions about nurse call systems have yet to be laid before the NHS
Wexham Park Hospital in the UK, is a typical example of how the flexibility offered by wireless nurse call systems can help patient services to adapt more quickly and easily to change.
Trusts that they will affect, which means that there is still an opportunity for UK health sector professionals to engage in the debate.
Technology choices The UK Government’s Department of Health publishes Health Technical Memorandums (HTM) relating to a wide range of specification areas to give comprehensive advice and guidance on the design, installation and operation of specialised building and engineering technology used in the delivery of healthcare. HTM 08-03 governs all a hospital’s bedhead services, including nurse call systems, and all nurse call products marketed in the UK must, therefore, be compliant. While there are various technologies
available in the UK nurse call market, the numerous proprietary systems and
‘HTM 08-03 governs all a hospital’s bedhead services, including nurse call systems, and all nurse call products marketed in the UK must, therefore, be compliant.’
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combinations of traditional, wireless and IP- based technologies boil down to two core generic nurse call types – wireless and hard wired. In basic terms, a hard-wired system
requires the nurse call units to be connected to electrical and data cabling according to the needs of the hospital, ward or clinical area at the time of installation. A wireless nurse call system is wire-free
and works using a combination of radio signals. A modular wireless system can be programmed with hundreds of locations in
John Polhill
John Polhill joined Courtney-Thorne in 2012. He brought with him 25-years of experience in medical equipment sales and a detailed knowledge of NHS structures, procurement routes and buying patterns.
Alongside his knowledge of the healthcare and care home sectors, he has also been recognised for developing and motivating sales teams. An important element of his remit at Courtney-Thorne has been to develop the company’s sales strategy and introduce new sales models, including key account management.
IFHE DIGEST 2015
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