A survey by
the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) found that, on
specific doors, there were high risks associated with the attachment of
ligatures primarily over door tops.
This
resulted in the Trust opting for a recognised and highly acclaimed solution
from Intastop.
The Door Top Alarm by Intastop helps prevent attempted
suicide by detecting when weight is applied to the top of the door.
This
tamper proof system, which can be retro-fitted to existing doors with ease,
works by a discrete sensory pad being installed at the top of a standard door
and, should a weight be applied, it will alert staff via a preferred method
such as an audible alarm, visible light, staff indicator panel or via a pager
or main computer.
The Trust provides inpatient and community mental health services
for children, adults and older people across Cheshire and Wirral. Its
focus is to strive for clinical excellence by ensuring there is a framework to
deliver quality improvements, the safety of patients and quality outcomes for
service users. The survey undertaken by the CWP property management team
focused on specific risks associated with en-suite doors and sourcing viable
solutions that still provided both patient privacy and safety.
Marie
Hanby, marketing manager for Intastop said: “We are delighted we have been able
to help CWP Trust provide a real solution to help avert risks associated with
ligatures from door tops. It is essential that care providers offer a
safe environment for their patients and staff and through the installation of
our Door Top Alarm CWP Trust are providing the best possible prevention
solution.”
Additional
features of the Intastop Door Top Alarm include; inbuilt false alarm
prevention, FD30 Fire Rated, is suitable for retrofit and new build, is
suitable for use with both Intastop’s anti-ligature Single and Double Swing
Hinges and it boasts an anti-ligature design with secure fixings and hidden
wiring.
Daniel
Allmark, Head of Capital and Property Management at Cheshire and Wirral
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) said: “We have a robust risk management
framework and are continually searching for solutions that keep our patients
safe. After assessment of three different options; removal of en-suite
doors, chamfered door tops and a door top alarm, the CWP Health & Safety
Well-being Sub Committee agreed that it was the Intastop Door Top Alarm that
would provide the most robust solution to managing ligature risk. We are
now looking at a programme of installation for a number of Trust areas
including adult acute, PICU and Low Secure Units.”
