Access control systems
RFID-based system that meets multiple needs
Jerry Smith, director of Primera Life, a specialist designer and manufacturer of anti-ligature door and window hardware, explains how the company develops and manufactures tailor-made access control systems for a range of providers of community health, specialist mental health, and learning disability services. Balancing safety, security, and an anti-ligature design with pleasing aesthetics, the company’s products are designed to provide a range of benefits for service-users and staff alike.
In the provision of mental health facilities, we are, thankfully, a very long way away from the Victorian asylum. Over the decades, as knowledge of mental ill-health and its treatment advanced, we made progress towards smaller units which recognised the differences in conditions and treatment approaches required. In more recent years, attitudes towards mental illness have also begun to change, and, with that, has come a recognition that the treatment environment can have a considerable impact on the success of therapies. Ward design – even down to the details of colour and décor – is now known to influence recovery. So, step by step, things are beginning to change. Most mental health units now have individual private bedrooms. As well as providing the essential privacy and dignity that is enshrined in human rights law, these rooms offer a safe refuge and security for personal possessions, and somewhere to – temporarily at least – call home. This idea of ‘home’ is important because allowing patients control over certain aspects of their routine and environment can be very beneficial. With control, confidence grows, people feel better, and their condition can begin to improve. Having more control, even over the smallest issues, can be an important step in building the responsibility and self-reliance needed for life outside a mental health unit.
A SECURE FRONT DOOR
The privilege that many of us take for granted – that of having a secure front door – with control over access to our own space – is now, increasingly, being made available to the service-user. The benefits are seen in a more relaxed atmosphere and reduced tensions, all of which is likely to lead to better patient outcomes. In addition, demands on unit staff are reduced when they are no longer constantly locking and unlocking doors. That, in turn, frees up time for more productive or therapeutic activities.
28 THE NETWORK OCTOBER 2016
same hardware, or its fixings, could be used as a weapon. In many cases, systems that operate using mechanical keys are inadequate. They are prone to tamper and difficult to manage. As a result, more and more service-providers have turned to card-reading technology to control access.
PROGRESS AND PROBLEMS Although this new technology represents a step forward, a recent audit by the Care Quality Commission has highlighted an issue that some Trusts may not have considered. The typical card-access type of lock that is found in many hotels gives patients the required privacy, dignity, and access control, but unfortunately these locksets fail to address one vital area of concern: standard, hotel-type locks are not designed to prevent the attachment of ligatures. Any Trusts that have opted for these locksets should take the time to review their decision.
Passport locksets, both in the original Solo format, and in the new Amadeo version, are battery operated, which ‘avoids the expense and disruption of installing a mains supply and the potential hazards from hard wiring’.
A mental health facility is, however, a very specialised environment. A conventional, domestic front door lock would be wholly inadequate. Any access control systems must be suitable for the building itself, for its security requirements, and for multiple door types. It should suit the needs of clinical staff, and be practical for service-users who may have differing physical or mental capabilities. When caring for vulnerable, and sometimes
unpredictable people, precautions need to be taken. For example, it wouldn’t be appropriate, or safe, if a service-user could create a barricade and effectively lock themselves into a room. Similarly, any hardware has to be tough enough to cope with potentially destructive behaviour without increasing the risks that the
Of all the access control systems that operate using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, only Primera’s Passport has features designed to protect the vulnerable. As well as the all-important anti-ligature design, the locksets have been developed to suit users with differing needs. This is an advantage, as many units care for patients with a range of conditions – including those who have physical disabilities in addition to their mental health problems.
CHANGES OF USE With most of the NHS facing severe budgetary constraints, facilities managers are well used to compromise. In an economic climate where the ideal of brand new, purpose-built facilities, with all the latest technology and outstanding design remains just that – an ideal, the ability to adapt and tailor provision is a bonus. The beauty of the Primera lockset lies in its adaptability. If, in future, a change of use was proposed for a unit, with different patient needs, then Passport would still be a viable and valuable lockset. It is entirely suitable for retrofitting, and can thus be installed without major disruption to existing doors. Operated with a card, fob, or wristband, and multiple handle options, it can be used by those with
The privilege that many of us take for granted – that of having a secure front door, with control over access to our own space – is now, increasingly, being made available to the service-user
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