Ascom IP DECT at the centre of Mental Health Hospital Communications

The Bethlem Royal Hospital is one of the largest mental health care, Medium Secure Units, in the UK. Ascom Wireless Solutions has been providing communication solutions to them for over fifteen years. Following a wide ranging review and the forthcoming development of a new multimillion-pound wing, Bethlem decided to embark on a complete revamp of their systems. Along with other providers Ascom was asked to put forward a package that would be the ‘hub’ for a completely integrated on site network, linking all the various existing systems and being the catalyst for voice, data and loneworker communications. The Hospital hosts some 450 patients and 2000 staff.

Wide Brief The proposal had to take into account many specific yet diverse operational requirements. In the first instance the site covers a geographically large area, some 350 acres(145 hectares), which contain many remote general purpose and high security buildings. Various functions were mission critical: Lone Worker Protection for staff, both at ward level and non-clinical personnel loneworking outside in the grounds: Interfacing with existing hard wired alarms both in clinical environments and areas with a particular safety aspect, such as the swimming pool or secure garden: Instantaneous cardiac and violence alarm messaging direct to emergency response teams: All alarms to include accurate incident location information to ensure a focussed and rapid response. (The whole site including individual staff rooms, wards, corridors and buildings has been mapped with numeric identifiers).

High Specification

The Bethlem had drawn up a detailed list of functionalities required from the new system:

• Compatibility with existing hard wired alarm systems
• Full alarm location information
• Independent system controller and event log
• Interface with Building Management Systems
• Link to fire alarm including location data
• Compatible with directional lights and sounders system
• Cross system integration with site LAN
• Windows based networkable PC monitoring
• Voice and Data on one system
• Interactive messaging
• Cross system broadcast andnominated group messaging
• DECT option for full lone working solution including man down and pull cord alarms
• 100% site coverage
• Expandable site-wide infrastructure

The Ascom Solution

Given the wide ranging functionality, and the number of third party interfaces required across a complex site, Ascom put forward an IP DECT propostem. Othesal using the latest Ascom DECT handsets with an IMSPC based touch screen messaging platform and Elise Pro lone worker monitoring syr functionality included; Handsets with swappable SIM cards; integration with the existing PBX so that handset carriers can receive or make calls to the PSTN; hands free speech; alphanumeric text. Overall the proposal guaranteed a secure yet flexible platform that is future proof and economic. After comparison with alternatives the Ascom solution was accepted and the new system, including some 1500 Ascom IPDECT handsets, will be rolled out across the site over the next three years.

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