Scottish hospital enjoys easier management and better security with eCLIQ

Challenge

NHS Raigmore Hospital provides a wide range of healthcare services — surgical, medical and clinical support. It is the only District General Hospital in the NHS Highlands Partnership, which runs over 200 sites across their area. With over 2,800 staff and more than 450 beds, Raigmore Hospital is always busy.

The sheer size of the hospital estate requires a large facilities management team. Access must be controlled and monitored to plant rooms, high- and low-voltage rooms, maintenance roof hatches and even a helipad where the air ambulance lands.

Every type of room and opening is accessed on a daily basis. Hospital managers sought a connected solution which could offer:

• a solution to the security risks caused by cases of lost and stolen keys, and time wasted on re-keying
• compliance with new government standards guidance which requires hospital building assets to be connected
• time-saving security functionality such as the ability to delete lost keys and monitor key use

Solution

After easy, wire-free installation of eCLIQ cylinders, the hospital now enjoys the benefits of eCLIQ electronic access control. Authorized staff carry a single, programmable eCLIQ key which is loaded with their appropriate personal access permissions.

Facilities managers have a detailed overview of access from eCLIQ’s Web Manager interface. The system logs the time and user whenever an eCLIQ key is used. If problems occur, it’s easy to determine who last entered a room and quickly find out more.

The risk of unauthorized access is reduced. The eCLIQ software can validate and revoke keys anytime. Former employees who do not return a key have their access de-authorized, for example.

In addition, because staff don’t need to first find the right key, eCLIQ has operational benefits during air emergencies. All authorized personnel use their own key to unlock the helipad, which can prove vital for urgent care.

“New legislation requiring connectivity of assets made our old security outdated,” explains Colin McEwen. “eCLIQ locks combined with the benefits that connectivity offers have proved a great asset.”

“Previously, when a key was lost or stolen, the only way to ensure security was to change our cylinders; eCLIQ has negated this, saving us money and time. We have set access to coincide with staff shift-patterns.”