The Healthcare market is an area of expertise for security solutions specialist TDSi. Not only does it require the most stringent security, the Healthcare sector often has strict budgets and involves caring for some of the most vulnerable people in society, so any solution needs to be highly reliable and easy to operate and manage. Specific areas such as hospital pharmacies need higher levels of security due to the value of stored products; baby units or wards for elderly patients typically require access control to monitor both entry and exit. There may also be specific security considerations for staff, with lone workers or remote parts of healthcare facilities that could be open at any time, day or night. Despite this, staff, patients and visitors need to be able to move around with a minimum of disruption.
TDSi’s range of access control and security solutions are designed to integrate efficiently with each other and also in close collaboration with other manufacturers’ products, such as Texecom’s alarm systems and Milestone’s CCTV solutions. TDSi products can be easily synchronised with existing security investments (from many third parties) or installed from scratch to offer fully bespoke security. By offering a wide choice of access control options along with the ability to record a detailed audit trail with their highly flexible software packages, TDSi is the ideal choice for installers and customers in the Healthcare sector.
An excellent example of TDSi’s expertise in this market is a recent installation at London’s Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital, which covers an impressive 617 doors across multiple sites and integrates with both security and fire systems for a rapid response in an emergency. John Coleman, Managing Director of expert installation specialist Advanced Detection Systems (ADS), which specified TDSi’s solutions as part of the project commented, “This has been a major and high-profile project for us which required a best-of-breed solution for the access control element. TDSi systems are specifically designed to integrate with other building services and security systems and are particularly well suited to projects where CCTV, fire alarms and access control need to work closely together to protect people and property. In partnership with TDSi, we were able to offer Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital, solutions which fully met their needs and give peace of mind that patients and staff can be fully protected from emergencies and potential security breaches, at all times.”
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| TDSi’s EXpert controller features a stand-by battery facility that allows the system to continue operating in the event of power failure |
The project uses TDSi’s EXpert IP controllers, fully featured networkable access control units, with supervised inputs and relays, making them ideal for monitoring and signalling alarm conditions which could occur at Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital. With capacity for up to 48,000 cards, the flexible access controller is ideal for those applications that feature high user volumes through access points - such as a busy hospital and teaching environment. TDSi’s EXpert controller features a stand-by battery facility that allows the system to continue operating in the event of power failure and at these times the system can be controlled without the need for PC communications, so controlled access is maintained.
TDSi’s Director of UK Sales, Stuart Griffiths, explains, “The project at Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital is an excellent example of how TDSi’s systems can be easily and very successfully integrated with other building services and security solutions to offer a highly intelligent and powerful access control system. A hospital environment protects many vulnerable people and assets, so being able to fully co-ordinate security whilst making the most of existing asset investments (particularly when budgets are under closer-than-ever scrutiny) is a highly desirable outcome for all stakeholders.”
