Back to News

Pushing the Right Buttons

When most people visualise a Radio Nurse Call system, they undoubtedly imagine a box on a wall which is pressed to call a member of staff. Yes this would be a fair description of some earlier versions of Radio Calling Equipment however over the last 5 years due to improvements in computer technology the advances in Call Systems are vast. Call System Packages can now be tailored exactly to the needs of your hospital:

High Risk Categories
Flexible Systems
Added Security
Budget Versions
Ward Management

With growing workloads facing the daily lives of many NHS staff, never was the use of a system more paramount in supporting their daily routines and adding to the security of hospitals.

Radio Call Systems are beneficial to all hospitals: they provide Nurses audio and visual reminders, which are particularly relevant when workloads are high and it is impossible to keep an eye on all patients. If used effectively they are a life line, without all the wiring.

They are also an aid to hospital management as Call Monitoring Software linked to the equipment can identify patients needs, staff response time to calls, and clarify events in the case of litigation. A Radio Nurse Call System effectively provides eyes to management as they work away from their wards. In January 2006 Courtney-Thorne will be giving all new Hospital Customers Call Management Software free with System Installations if they quote Hospital Bulletin. As we wish to promote the fundamental benefits of call logging to all NHS and private Hospital Managers nationally.

Paging systems may also be incorporated into your call system allowing greater flexibility and on the job response. Instead of utilising multiple display points, staff are buzzed on the job to respond to calls. We have found many wards find this design to be particularly effective, especially in such specialist areas as maternity units where calls are particularly unpredictable.

Arguably a key consideration to make when deciding on purchasing Call System is whether or not it is tailored to the needs of your patients. Courtney- Thornes 36 years in the Nurse Call Industry has taught us to supply specialist call unit designs depending on the condition of your patients. For example air switch devices for those with limited body movement and mouth adaptors for similar purposes which enable these patients to make a call. Pressure Mats are also a popular option for detecting patient movements in and out of bed.

Call Systems can also be used as a security measure with door locking systems and staff protection devices now available to work alongside your basic Call System.

At Courtney Thorne we continue to strive to promote the use of Radio Call within hospitals, some of our great successes include the following hospitals, where we have solved their specific healthcare challenges.

Challenge:
Expensive to maintain a hard-wired call system. Rewiring very disruptive to patients and staff.

Wexham Park Hospital, Slough
NHS
Prior to installing a Radio Nurse Call System Wexham Park used a hard-wired version. The older design repeatedly broke down and service costs became significant due to the re-wiring involved.

Manager Keith Burrows chose a Radio Call System and was particularly pleased with the installation by Courtney-Thorne:
"The system is cordless and therefore no wiring was involved during the installation. This meant that we needed no redecoration and they installed it in just one morning so we experienced very little disruption to staff and patients."

John Radcliffe NHS Hospital:
Private Patients Unit
Nursing Quality Manager Mara Buchanan says the Courtney-Thorne Radio Nurse Call System works really well for the Private Patients Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital. She comments on the Visibility of the Call Display Point, one can see the patients call on the panel from a sizable distance; it is also visible from several angles due to its swivel bracket. The range is also useful as my staff can hear the call panel from around the ward.

Park Villa Acute Independent Hospital Macclesfield

Challenge:
To find a call system that was robust yet easy to operate by patients and staff as well as being cost effective.

Solution:
The Courtney-Thorne range provides a low maintenance, cost-effective, reliable Radio Call System with clear visible display panels and neat yet robust call units, installed with no disruption to patients and staff. With wipe clean labels fronting products, damage by liquids is minimal.

Courtney-Thorne is an ISO 9001:2000 registered company with national support and distribution centres. Should you require further details on the large equipment range available, please complete the Enquiry Service Card.

Alternatively telephone (01202) 573300, fax (01202) 573200, email sales@courtney-thorne.co.uk; we are only to happy to help with all your queries.