Category Archives: Healthcare

Healthcare, News

World’s first personal defibrillator launches in the UK

At up to one tenth of the price, size, and weight of conventional AEDs, CellAED® is designed to reduce unnecessary deaths from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – and is available for pre-order at cellaed.io

Every day, 150 people in the UK die from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, making it one of the nation’s biggest killers.

The vast majority of sudden cardiac arrests happen in the home or the workplace, striking quickly and with little to no warning. Survival rate is low; if a victim does not receive CPR or defibrillation within the first ten minutes, they will not survive.

Yet new research carried out amongst the UK population reveals that only 18% of people would feel confident using a defibrillator if they witnessed a loved one suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. This drops to 16% if the victim is a stranger.

Findings suggest that the main barrier holding people back from using a defibrillator in an emergency is a lack of training (43%); followed by a lack of confidence (41%); and a fear of causing further damage (35%).

CellAED®, developed by Rapid Response Revival®, has been created to increase access to defibrillators and overcome barriers to their use. The world’s first personal, portable defibrillator uses game-changing technology, designed to improve the chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.

CellAED®’s unique Snap Peel StickTM design means the device is quick and easy to use, even by someone with no medical training. CellAED® is up to one tenth of the price, size, and weight of current technology, and makes at-home defibrillator ownership a possibility.

 

Donovan Casey, co-founder and CEO of Rapid Response Revival® said, “In 2014, when my partner Sarah suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, I was a customer for a product that didn’t exist. Without the quick action from emergency services, Sarah would not be here today. So CellAED® is born out of a personal mission to make this life-saving technology available in homes and all public spaces. I’ve seen first-hand that cardiac arrests strike anyone, regardless of age or health status, so having the suitable tools and knowledge to hand could save the life of a loved one, colleague, or passer-by.”

 

Dr Steven Brooks, Chief Medical Officer at Rapid Response Revival® said, “CellAED® will profoundly change the way we address sudden cardiac arrest in our communities. The miniaturisation of existing AED technology, paired with approval from the world’s leading medical device regulatory authorities makes CellAED® the obvious choice for life-saving defibrillation in homes and workplaces. If there is a CellAED® nearby, the chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest significantly improve.” 

 

Increasing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest in the UK

Improving the UK’s access to defibrillators is just one part of the solution. Only one third (33%) of UK adults would be able to recognise the signs of sudden cardiac arrest and just (26%) know how they differ from heart attacks.

With only 18% of people in the UK having had CPR training in the last two years, confidence to step in during an emergency is currently low. But appetite for training is high – over two thirds (68%) of UK adults would like to learn CPR to be able to better help.

 

George Woods, Chief Business Officer at St John Ambulance said: “As the nation’s leading first aid and health response charity, we know that speed is everything when it comes to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Survival rates in this country lag too far behind other nations. Our training in CPR and work with partners on widening access to early defibrillation is tackling that gap, and St John welcomes any effort to innovate in support of our lifesaving mission.”

Rapid Response Revival® is on a mission to reduce the death toll from sudden cardiac arrest by:

  1.     Raising awareness of how to recognise and respond to sudden cardiac arrest
  2.     Educating people around CPR and defibrillator use
  3.     And doing what no-one has achieved before; getting affordable, easy-to-use defibrillators into homes and workplaces across the UK

 

Benjamin Culff, who was just 17 years old when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while at work as a waiter, said, “Thanks to the quick action of my courageous colleagues and the fact that there was an onsite defibrillator in my workplace, I was given a second chance. Since my cardiac arrest, I have dreamt of there being a mini defibrillator that could be easily used in homes and offices and it’s amazing to see that Rapid Response Revival® has realised those dreams. My story is testament to the fact that sudden cardiac arrest really can strike anyone, anywhere at any time.”

 

For more information on CellAED® and to pre-order for the special introductory price from £199, visit cellaed.io.

 

Healthcare, Mental Health, News

Northampton community mental health service praised by regulating body CQC

A service that helps people with common and complex mental health issues across the county and beyond has been rated ‘Good’ by an independent regulating body.

It is the first time the Community Partnership Service, which is part of St Andrew’s Healthcare, has been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The announced inspection was carried out in December 2021, during which the regulator spoke to staff and service users, as well as reviewing care records and all its policies and procedures.

The service provides outpatient clinics, specialist mental health assessments and treatment for war veterans.

It also works with criminal offenders after they have been sentenced, helping them to address mental health issues and behaviour in a bid to prevent them from reoffending. The CQC highlighted that working in partnership was “outstanding practice”.

Catherine Vichare, Clinical Director of the Community Partnerships Service, said: “I’m hugely proud of our team and the work we carry out. We’ve helped thousands of people within the community to better manage their mental health and I’m thrilled that our hard work and commitment has been officially recognised.

“The report highlighted staff, that I’m proud to call colleagues, saying they were ‘discreet, respectful, and responsive when caring for service users’. For me, it doesn’t get much better than that and I would like to thank each and every member of the team for their determination to help those people who need it most within our community.”

CQC inspectors also spoke with nine service users during their visit, and positive feedback was provided from everyone.

Nicola Crookes (above), who served in the Royal Navy for five years, said: “I was only too happy to speak to the CQC inspectors as the Veterans Complex Treatment Service saved my life.”

The 51-year-old from Lincoln said she has suffered for most of her adult life with is complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), which develops from exposure to multiple traumatic events, but her mental health spiralled dangerously out of control after she left the Navy.

She said: “Initially I was assessed over the phone as it was during the first lockdown and it was the most intense assessment I’ve ever undergone and I had this innate fear that no one was going to help me.

“I started my therapy during the lockdown, every other week, and let me tell you, I would not be here now if it wasn’t for the support and treatment I was given.”

Nicola’s treatment involves a sensorimotor psychotherapy approach which she says can be physically exhausting at times, but extremely helpful.

She said: “I’m taken back to my place of trauma and I am made to physically release the trauma from my body. My whole body shakes and I’ve vomited before. We’ve identified where the trauma starts in my body and it works it’s way up. I violently shake sometimes and it can look like I’m having some sort of a strange fit, but once the shaking calms down, then come the tears and this has been a huge breakthrough as I haven’t been able to cry since I was a teenager.

“This therapy has saved my life and I am so grateful for it – I am literally rewiring my brain and for the first time in a long time I feel safe, well supported and like my life has a purpose. You can never be entirely cured of CPTS but I’m learning how to navigate round certain triggers that before getting the help I needed could have made me spiral and become out of control.”

The service received an overall ‘Good’ rating with areas for improvement identified around the ‘Safe’ domain. But, even before the report had been published improvements were already underway to help meet the CQC’s requirements.

St Andrew’s Healthcare’s CEO Jess Lievesley said: “I’m thrilled at the rating and very proud of what Catherine and her team have achieved. As a charity, we’re focussing on the quality of care we deliver and the Community Partnerships team is a shining example of exactly how a service should be run to support people with both common and complex mental health problems.

“We know all too well the impact the pandemic has had on many people and to have such a valuable service within our community that has now been officially recognised by the CQC should be reassuring to those who may feel they might need some extra help.”

 

For more information about Community Partnerships, click here.

 

Eyecare, Healthcare, News

New initiative lifts barriers to cataract care for people with disabilities and dementia

Picture books, videos and personalised tools – SpaMedica rolls out scheme to benefit vulnerable NHS cataract patients across country

A new initiative is raising the bar in supporting people with disabilities and healthcare conditions, such as dementia, who require cataract surgery.

Two healthcare workers at SpaMedica’s Newcastle-Under-Lyme hospital are behind the transformed approach, after observing first-hand how some of the most vulnerable NHS patients struggle with the journey of undergoing cataract surgery.

Registered nurse Kerry Harrison and senior healthcare technician Hannah Young made it their mission to tailor the hospital experience, identifying new ways of adapting practice to better address the challenges and anxieties faced by those who found it hard to read or understand the standard materials used to describe the surgical process.

The fruits of their labour – overhauling procedures to set new standards of care – have now been introduced across all SpaMedica’s 37 hospitals.

Before joining the UK-leading cataract surgery provider, Kerry worked in the NHS and in a private hospital for 13 years across all aspects from surgery, including ophthalmology. In her role at SpaMedica, she accompanies NHS patients through the entire process, from admission to discharge – and the focus, Kerry says, is always on the person.

“Every patient is different,” she explains. “Although they go through the same procedure, we might have a patient with mobility problems, or they might have dementia, or maybe there’s a language barrier. What is critical is our commitment to treat everyone as an individual. It’s patient-centred care, rather than just ticking a box to get the surgery successfully completed.”

Unlike Kerry, Hannah Young, aged 24, had no previous ophthalmology experience when she joined the SpaMedica team. But with a background as a carer in a specialist home for people with dementia, Hannah recognised there was an opportunity to go above and beyond, by tailoring their support for patients who are more vulnerable.

“Although there was some specialised care in place, for me, based on my background and also my personal experience – my sister is disabled – I felt there was even more that could be done,” explains Hannah.

“When a patient with a disability came into the hospital, I found it really difficult to not get involved in their care, making sure they fully understood all that was involved and they were comfortable. I felt like something more could be done that would guarantee that specific needs are identified early on, ensuring that the patient is 100% supported.”

Kerry adds: “What highlighted it to me, particularly, was when a patient with learning disabilities visited us for an appointment, accompanied by a social worker. This lady was illiterate so she couldn’t read the materials we’ve developed to ensure our patients know what will happen before, during and after their surgery.

“Rather than follow what would be a traditional pre-assessment for her, we tailored our care and did a completely different assessment, which focused on her emotional needs and any triggers that might make her upset. That’s when I realised there was an opportunity to introduce a more bespoke and flexible model that would make a real difference to patients who need our care and attention the most.”

As part of the initiative, Hannah and Kerry have designed picture books, describing the patient journey from pre-assessment, to surgery, to post-op care, using photographs taken around the hospital.

“We had a patient with disabilities visit us soon after we made these books and he confided that he hadn’t slept for two days because he was so worried about coming,” says Hannah.

“He told us that he liked to know what was going on, but he didn’t always understand what was happening. By seeing it for himself in this picture book, it helped him to relax. And he was able to keep referring to it when he became anxious. He said it made a huge difference to how calm he felt going to theatre.”

Kerry adds: “For our female patient who’d been joined by her social worker, we recognised that she would be unable to read our discharge instruction leaflet, so we developed her a personalised video, because she loved to watch television. In it we described post-operative care by recreating the act of taking off her eye patch and how to administer eye drops. Her social worker assisted by setting an alarm on her mobile for her, which prompted her to watch the video every day. It meant she could handle her post-surgery care herself and keep a sense of independence, which is hugely important.”

Both Hannah and Kerry recognise that it is thanks to SpaMedica’s work environment that they’ve been empowered to develop the programme.

“SpaMedica treats thousands of NHS patients for cataract surgery so we were proud to be able to channel our time and resources to implement this kind of personalised programme of care,” says Kerry. “If we can accommodate those who are more vulnerable and ensure their experience is top level, then that’s what we’ll do. It’s about giving them emotional support as well as physical.”

Official versions of Hannah and Kerry’s picture books have now been produced and distributed to all SpaMedica hospitals. “We didn’t expect it to go around the entire business,” adds Hannah. “I think that’s what I love most about working here. It’s the recognition this project has had. It’s gone so far from an idea in my head. It’s making such a difference to patients.”

Kerry echoes Hannah’s comments, adding: “We’ve had patients cry tears of joy when they come out of theatre, because they’re absolutely over the moon and we’ve all stood there crying with them. And that’s what it’s about – the personal touch. The patient is never just a number; we make sure their care is bespoke.

“We all work hard together to achieve the same goal, which is patient satisfaction. It’s like seeing a miracle unfold before your eyes.”

Healthcare, News, South East

Bridge Health & Wellbeing welcomes new physiotherapist as it expands clinical team

Family-run clinic Bridge Health & Wellbeing in Christchurch, Dorset is delighted to welcome experienced physiotherapist Victoria McIntrye to their team.

Originally from Scotland, Victoria has a strong football background. Before moving to England, she spent five years at Hamilton Academical Football Club, rising to Head of Physiotherapy. Over the past five years, Victoria has been a physiotherapist at AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC and lectured at Solent University. She is a committee member of the Football Medicine & Performance Association.

Paul O’Connell, co-founder and physiotherapist at Bridge Health & Wellbeing, said “We are delighted to welcome Victoria to our team. She brings a real wealth of knowledge to our clinic. Victoria can treat all musculoskeletal issues but has a special interest in breathing and its effect on performance. Her football expertise will be useful to the players from Weymouth Football Club that will be visiting us for treatment as part of our health and wellbeing partnership.”

Bridge Health & Wellbeing is a friendly, family-run clinic in the heart of Christchurch in Dorset, with high quality physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, sports massage and rehabilitation services,  expert Pilates and yoga classes and state-of-the-art gym facilities all under one roof.

Whether you need help with pain or an injury or just want to stay fit and healthy, come and join them for the journey. Book your appointment now at www.bridgehw.com or call 01202 473800 to speak to their friendly team of wellbeing experts.

Healthcare, HR, News, Wellbeing at Work

Tips to support employees with cancer from Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing

According to Macmillan[i] 1 in 3 (or 750,000) of the two million people currently living with cancer in the UK are of working age. This figure is set to rise to 1.7 million by 2030.

Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing is urging businesses to address the oncoming cancer pandemic and use World Cancer Day (4th February) as a talking point to raise awareness of the forgotten ‘C[ii]’ in the workplace.

The Institute for Public Policy Research estimates delays in cancer treatment could take until 2033 to clear, and an estimated 19,500 people with cancer in England have not been diagnosed due to missed referrals due to Covid-19[iii]. Research in the British Medical Journal suggests every month delayed in cancer treatment can raise the risk of death by around 10%[iv].

Matthew Gregson, Executive Director, UK Corporate at Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing says, “The pandemic has had a major impact on people suffering from cancer. Missed presentation and diagnosis of symptoms and delays in cancer treatment have had serious consequences for employees and knock-on impact for businesses. As well as the physical effects of cancer and treatments, it can have wide-reaching effects on employees’ mental health; from people living with the illness itself to those who are supporting colleagues and loved ones or dealing with cancer-related bereavements.

‘’Employers have a vital role in addressing this global issue and this starts building understanding and awareness of the risks and the support available. As many cancers are linked to lifestyle choices, businesses can help employees by promoting good wellbeing that giving them the tools to take a proactive approach. World Cancer Day is the ideal time for employers to talk about cancer and remind employees of available support.

“Initiatives could include presentations about cancer awareness, so employees can learn about the signs and symptoms of cancer, what to look out for, what the risk factors are and what can they do to mitigate those risks could have a big impact and encourage people to seek early diagnosis.

“Prevention is better than cure and introducing health and wellbeing programmes designed to promote healthier habits and lifestyles and raising awareness of diseases such as cancer, is just as important as having the right polices, benefits and support in place for when someone is diagnosed.”

Here are Matthew’s tips for employers on creating a supportive workplace for those affected by cancer:

Line manager training

Train line managers to better understand the likely effects of cancer, its treatments and how to handle difficult and sensitive conversations. They need to be able to signpost employees to their employee benefits, support services and information on their working options.

Macmillan at Work provides information, training, and resources for employers & managers to help them support staff affected by cancer.

Support for colleagues
Finding out that a colleague has cancer can be a big shock and while your focus will be on supporting the employee diagnosed with cancer, don’t underestimate the impact on their colleagues. Consider offering support services, such as counselling, to those emotionally impacted by their colleague’s illness.

Be flexible in your approach

Under UK employment legislation, cancer is defined as a disability. Employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace for employees diagnosed with cancer. This could include allowing time off to go to hospital appointments, working flexible hours, changes to the role, remote working or organising a phased return to work.

Keeping in touch and returning to work

An employee with cancer may have time off work to undergo certain types of treatment or to recover from surgery. Keep in touch during this time to support them, keep up to date with their progress and, when they are ready, agree a return date.

Remind your employees of their employee benefits

The employee benefits available to your employees could offer a range of support that will make a real difference to the employee diagnosed with cancer. This could include access to a private GP which could ensure a quick diagnosis of the cancer, giving them the best opportunity for early treatments, which may also enable them to remain in work.

Introduce Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

This can help employees’ access treatment more quickly and plan their treatment around busy schedules. PMI also gives people greater choice over which hospital and consultant they prefer, and in some cases access to drugs that are not widely available on the NHS.

Offer health screenings

Health screenings have come on a long way in recent years, with screenings that target specific cancers available, which are more affordable and convenient than ever. For employees in high risk groups, who are unlikely to have addressed the potential risk of cancer in the last 2 years, consider including screenings as part of your benefits strategy.

Include digital wellbeing tools within your strategy

Wellbeing platforms and apps are a simple and cost-effective way to help employees measure and monitor their lifestyle behaviours, such as exercise, diet and sleep. They can help to educate employees about their own risk factors, the impact upon their long term health and what they can do about them. Driving people to make proactive lifestyle choices. This can also create a platform for wider wellbeing initiatives, to promote physical activity in the workplace, taking time for mental wellbeing and much more.

Review your existing benefits

Do your existing benefits offer employees adequate support to enable them to remain in the workplace throughout their treatment or return to work after a period? Or do the benefits need to be reviewed? Employers should consider conducting a full review of their health and benefits strategy to ensure its fit for purpose post Covid-19.

 

For more information in Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing visit: www.howdengroup.com/uk-en/cover/employee-benefits-and-wellbeing-consulting

 

[i] https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/we-make-change-happen/we-shape-policy/work-and-cancer.html

[ii] https://www.macmillan.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/the-forgotten-c

[iii] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clearing-cancer-backlog-could-take-nhs-until-2033-tc0pfdzj3

[iv] https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/every-month-delayed-in-cancer-treatment-can-raise-risk-of-death-by-around-10/

AI, Appointments, Business, Business News, CEO & Founder Stories, Europe, European News, FInance, Finance News, Health, Health Tech, Healthcare, Healthcare News, Healthcare Tech, International News, Investment News, News, News from England, NHS News, UK

UK Scaleup Navenio Hires New CEO To Drive US Expansion Following 153% Growth in 2021

  • Navenio strengthens senior team with the appointment of a new CEO to build out its global offering, after securing first two sites in the US
  • Follows December’s £9.5m series A top-up, £1.5m NHSX AI in Health and Care Award and new partnerships with platforms such as HERE Technologies

Oxford, UK; 3rd February 2022: Navenio, the UK health & location tech scale up, today announced plans for its next chapter of growth and expansion into the US, following a £9.5 million investment awarded last month. The company has appointed Connie Moser as CEO, who joins Navenio with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare strategy, sales and operations, including building large-scale businesses across global markets.

Navenio, which saw a 153% increase in revenue in 2021, has also appointed geospatial expert Andrew Loveless to drive innovation outside of healthcare in his role as VP of Business Development. The appointment comes after Navenio recently partnered with HERE Technologies, to power the Indoor Positioning element of its Indoor Map as a service: a one-stop shop for indoor mapping solutions.

As part of its plans for growth, Navenio’s US-based leadership will lead the charge from the largest health economy in the world, bringing the benefits of indoor location services to everyone, everywhere. Connie Moser, new CEO of Navenio, added: “I am joining at a pivotal time for Navenio and am delighted to drive our expansion in the US and beyond. I look forward to building strong global partnerships and believe passionately in the vast potential that Navenio can bring by ensuring ‘right person, right place, right time’ in healthcare settings. Artificial intelligence is one of many technologies making a real world impact in the healthcare sector, and I’m proud to lead a company spearheading digital transformation.”

Navenio is tackling the rising cost of healthcare with a tool that can increase workplace productivity by up to 100%, freeing up clinical resources for other high value tasks. The company’s mission is to get teams back to capacity post-pandemic by maximising patient flow in key departments such as imaging and logistics, a key issue limiting the ability of hospitals to improve both clinician and staff productivity, and patient throughput.

Martin Moran, Chairman at Navenio commented: “I’m delighted to announce our plans for growth and welcome both Connie and Andrew to the Navenio team. The possibility of indoor location technology is vast and we’re excited to be expanding into the US, providing the benefits of our technology to everyone, everywhere.”

Following recent funding from NHSX, as part of an AI in Health and Care Award, Navenio is also currently developing a proven and nationally scalable evidence based solution to further support improved patient flow across the NHS. The first live sites, as part of the 13 hospital Award programme, have already delivered a positive impact to Trusts, staff and patients, with the full results due to be published later in 2022.

Healthcare, News

Meryl Medical Upweights Sustainable Mask Production for 2022 Responding to Demand

With an estimated 55 million single-use face masks used daily in the UK*, taking an average of 450 years to decompose**, Meryl Medical is seeing a surge in demand for sustainable alternatives in light of an increasingly familiar sight of discarded disposable masks, causing irreversible harm to the environment.

Meryl Medical will be increasing its 2022 production output by potentially 50% in response to the substantial consumer and industry calls for a sustainable alternative.

New completely recyclable lightweight antibacterial and recyclable fabric face masks for extended wear launched by the firm, with the opportunity for responsible returns.

A choice of two lightweight fabric face masks designed for all-day wear and treated with a permanent antiviral-effect, antibacterial and anti-fungal technology has been launched by Meryl Medical, the hi-tech, pioneering, textile manufacturer that produces environmentally sustainable fabrics.  One single-layer for ultimate comfort and one double layer for extra filtration.

Ideal for wearing on production lines and those working in close proximity, the comfortable face covers help to reduce the risk of contagion as they do not release microfibres carrying viruses or microbes.

Kevin Simpson, co-founder of Meryl Medical, said: “With masks set to be here for the long term, and the well-publicised environmental issues associated with disposable masks, businesses and consumers are becoming more conscious and discerning over their choice of mask to wear. With this we are seeing a massive hike in enquiries and are putting the necessary plans in place,

“Our masks are fully recyclable and for larger workplace facilities where our masks are used,  provide special ‘bins’ so that the masks can be returned and remade in to new masks.

“This contributes to a company’s environmental strategy overcoming the issue of using disposable masks which contain plastic, are not readily biodegraded and can fragment into smaller plastic particles, namely microplastics which can become widespread in ecosystems.”

Designed to be worn for extended periods, the masks are manufactured with Nylstar Hydrogen technologies which makes the yarn soft touch and gives maximum absorbency, breathability and hydration of the skin. Worn correctly the masks also overcomes the issue of fogging for those who wear glasses.

Three times more durable than disposable masks, Meryl Medical’s hypoallergenic and non-toxic masks can be washed up to 100 times at 70°C without losing effectiveness and as a non-shredding fabric it releases zero microfibre pollution into the water or air.

The masks are also fully recyclable and Meryl Medical offers each customer the opportunity to return used items for remanufacture into new masks.  With a usage period of 2 months, this makes the overall cost vs high usage of disposable masks beneficial to any business.

Recently recognised with the “Best PPE Accessory” in the 2021 Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) awards, the masks have Oeko-Tex® 100 certification, which means they are free from harmful substances, and tested by the Leitat Technological Center.

More information about the Meryl Medical masks can be found at https://merylmedical.com/

Healthcare, Healthcare Tech, Software

TIBCO GatherSmart Enables Safe Practices for Students During the Pandemic

TIBCO has announced how its advanced COVID-19 symptom-tracking solution TIBCO GatherSmart® has played an important role in supporting schools and colleges throughout the pandemic to create a safe and responsible environment for teachers and students.

 

“The pandemic has had far-reaching effects on everyone, but in particular, our youth have seen significant change in their lives over such a short time,” said Nelson Petracek, global chief technology officer, TIBCO. “It is exceptionally rewarding to witness how technology can support safe back-to-school practices, enable the careful return of students and educators, and subsequently promote continued learning and social interactions. GatherSmart, simple in design but powerful in its application, surfaces the insights needed by schools and organisations to make the tough decisions. It automates the checks required to ensure the safe return of all individuals; in a sense, it becomes the gatekeeper that keeps institutions safer for everyone.”

 

Used by education institutions and organisations of all sizes, GatherSmart®, a TIBCO4Good™ initiative, is an at-cost solution for businesses and communities to monitor COVID-19 proactively. Built on the TIBCO® Connected Intelligence Cloud, the offering is used as a symptom-tracking solution that can be integrated into enterprise-wide applications and data sets for more holistic monitoring through the combination of APIs.

 

Immanuel Lutheran School, Illinois

Immanuel Lutheran School in Illinois started COVID-19 tracking using a paper-based system managed by staff members who physically input answers from students and parents on arrival to track symptoms and temperatures. When the school decided it needed a more reliable system, their head of IT, Bill McLane, suggested the use of GatherSmart. “With the help of TIBCO, we had GatherSmart up and running in one week, and now over 80% of our student body and staff uses it,” said McLane. “Parents use it when dropping off kids, and it greatly expedites getting children safely into school. The passport application is tremendously successful, and we will continue to apply it through the end of the pandemic.”

 

Morgan State University, Maryland

When looking for a safe way to reintroduce students to campus for the school season, Morgan State University in Maryland also elected to implement GatherSmart. “We collaborated with TIBCO to implement a convenient technology-based solution that enhances the health and safety protocols that we put in place to protect our Morgan community during the pandemic,” said Adebisi Oladipupo, Sc.D., vice president, Division of Information Technology and CIO, Morgan State University. “The ease of use of the GatherSmart application allowed members of our community, even the least tech-savvy among us, to be active participants in furthering the safety of our environment while amplifying the peace of mind that it offered.”

 

TIBCO GatherSmart is designed to provide a safe, easy-to-manage solution for all types and sizes of organizations as they return to work and school while adjusting to a post-pandemic life.

 

Learn more about TIBCO GatherSmart and other impactful implementations.

Healthcare, Midlands News, News

SLT sub-role a shot in the arm for region

Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) has been praised for its role in the borough’s COVID-19 vaccination programme success – delivering jabs for some 40% of the adults fully vaccinated so far!

The Black Country-based charity (which runs nine leisure facilities for Sandwell Council across the borough) part converted two of its sites to approved vaccination centres at the start of the pandemic – Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury and Tipton Sports Academy – and just between them they have delivered in excess of 160,000 of the *400,000+ jabs administered across Sandwell to date.

Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are so grateful to the staff of Sandwell Leisure Trust for the role they’ve played in rolling out vaccination in our area.  From the provision of vaccination venues, right through to the staff members’ encouragement to local people to get their jabs, SLT have been instrumental in maximising vaccination uptake.  Through this work, there’s no doubt that lives have been saved.”

Ash Rai, Chief Executive for Sandwell Leisure Trust, added: “We’re so proud to be able to offer our unflinching support for this far reaching, local vaccination programme. Portway Lifestyle Centre and Tipton Sports Academy were chosen because of their size and accessible location, plus our teams there have worked tirelessly and hand-in- hand with local NHS and Public Health staff to significantly contribute to Sandwell’s success rate.”

“I’d also like to say a special thank you to our customers, clubs and partners, who have all been so understanding and patient with the disruption in services whilst we have been supporting the so important fight against Covid.”

Sandwell’s completion rate has been much better than expected, and in some age groups a lot higher than the national average. This is also true of black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, which traditionally have lower vaccination uptake rates.

Indeed, Sandwell MBC has just won a local government public health award for its Covid vaccination programme, which heralds the finest examples of innovation and quality delivered by councils.

*This figure doesn’t include children or third booster jabs, which are ongoing.

Pic shows l to r : Faraz Ahmed – Senior Lead Pharmacist, John Harling – Manager at Portway Lifestyle Centre, Rosie Chidlow – COVID 19 Vaccine Operational Manager, Simon Bryan – Manager at Tipton Sports Academy and Nena Mason – Senior Lead Nurse.

Healthcare, News

mpro5 is helping to keep the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust’s properties safe and compliant

Managing maintenance, cleaning, and compliance checks across a large estate of 110 buildings was a huge challenge, made simple with mpro5’s seamless, all-in-one solution.

The new National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 for the NHS in England, introduced in April earlier this year, are setting incredibly high standards that NHS Trusts are expected to comply with, with Trusts now under increasing pressure to improve and maintain high quality and safe maintenance and cleaning services.

The new standards will continue to see regular cleaning audits taking place, resulting in public facing cleanliness star ratings being required to be on show for all to see. The Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) was struggling with an out-dated system that was failing to keep pace with their requirements. Managing 110 varied buildings under a variety of freehold and leasehold arrangements in a healthcare setting, where safety is paramount, was a sprawling challenge.

Dan Teare, Sector Director at mpro5, discussed mpro5’s seamless integration with CWPT: “CWPT had only six weeks remaining on their existing supplier’s contract before they would have been forced to renew for a full 12 months. They needed us to configure a solution, with 171 functional requirements, to replace the existing system before they were forced to renew.

“Faced with such an urgent deadline of six weeks before their existing system was switched off, we fully configured and deployed mpro5 within four weeks, allowing two weeks for refining and testing before ‘go live’. Our system carries out maintenance schedules as well as allowing the real-time allocation of reactive tasks, providing feedback to the Estates team and the person responsible from the buildings. Managing SLAs, Statutory PPM tasks and handling external work tasks that are passed out to a wide network of sub-contractors, mpro5 ensures compliance and the timely completion of jobs and reporting. The platform also provides overviews of any building and the reactive tasks which have taken place.

Dan continued: “The mpro5 configuration for CWPT gives them unprecedented visibility across their estate and a new Works Management System (WMS) that can also handle any reactive tasks raised across the trust via telephone or intranet web forms. The mpro5 configuration was specifically designed to increase operational effectiveness, improve process compliance, and drive productivity gains. The platform also monitors the status of compliance for all statutory risk types, both holistically and on a site-by-site basis. This has allowed CWPT to switch off the obsolete system and has provided a solid foundation to start expanding the use of our software across the Estates department. The first addition was a more detailed fire door check process, and the Trust will soon be using the platform as their National Standards of Cleaning Auditing solution, allowing them to retire a system that they struggled with for years.

“Next on the list is a building condition survey and asset tagging across the estate, widening the digital footprint, and enabling yet more processes to come within the remit of the mpro5 platform.”

 

Sat Padda, Senior Compliance Manager at CWPT commented: “I want to thank the whole team at mpro5 – they covered more ground in the six weeks than our old system did in three years. This was the first step in realising my vision for the Estates Department at CWPT.”