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Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, provide a range of healthcare services to approximately 320,000 residents across Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth and Elmbridge. Kingston Hospital being the Trust’s core site, provide over 500 patient beds and consist of approximately 2,300 staff.

The Need for Enhanced Safety Measures

Recent statistics reveal a concerning trend in workplace safety, particularly for healthcare professionals conducting home visits. According to a Royal College of Nursing survey, over 10% of nurses have experienced physical assault during home visits in the past two years.

This issue is a significant concern for Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust who have employees visiting individuals at home, some of whom are from vulnerable backgrounds. They also have members of staff dispensing drugs, and working in the hospital behind reception desks, often alone during late hours.

Concerns for Public-Facing Lone Workers

In the event of challenging situations, lone workers in public-facing roles may encounter difficulties when seeking help.

Recent findings from Peoplesafe’s customer satisfaction survey underscore the urgency of this issue, revealing a worrying trend in lone worker incidents over the past year. It was identified that out of 1,735 respondents, 5.1% had to activate their safety alarms in a ‘live incident”.

With this in mind, the Trust recognised the urgency of enhancing safety measures for its employees.

Choosing Peoplesafe Technology

Faced with escalating safety concerns, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust sought a reliable solution to mitigate risks and provide timely assistance to staff in distress. The Trust turned to Peoplesafe, a trusted partner in employee safety technology and an approved supplier on the NHS Supply Chain, already working with over 100 NHS Trusts to provide first-class protection.

Andy Machin, Spokesperson for the Trust, explained,

“Peoplesafe’s customer support network and help desk set them apart from other lone worker protection providers”

Streamlined Emergency Response

Accredited to the BS 8484:2022 standard, the Peoplesafe service is able to bypass 999 and have direct access to police control rooms. This guarantees the fastest response times in an emergency and eliminates the delay caused by workers having to locate their mobile and explain the situation to a 999 operator.

After evaluating the range of solutions offered by Peoplesafe, the Trust chose to implement the MySOS. Andy continued,

“The most impressive element of Peoplesafe’s service is the simplicity and longevity of the devices. It’s reassuring to know that help can be sent quickly to any of our staff in need.”

Discreet Protection

The discreet nature of the MySOS device also stood out to the Trust as it offers a crucial advantage to public-facing workers, allowing them to raise an alarm swiftly and discreetly without alerting potential aggressors. This minimises the risk of escalating the situation further, as workers can activate the alarm without drawing added attention.

With Peoplesafe technology by their side, the staff at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust can feel protected whilst knowing they can get emergency help discreetly and quickly.