The donation of a unique monitoring system by Friends of Ramsey Cottage Hospital will provide an extra safeguard for elderly patients and ensure staff are alerted as soon as help is needed.
EarlySense is a system of contactless sensors which transmit data on a patient’s heart rate, respiratory rate and body movement directly from the bedside to the nursing station. Sensor pads placed under the patient’s mattress or chair cushion relay signals via the Wi-Fi network to wall-mounted screens. Nursing staff can also be directly alerted through a pager system.
The technology has been recently developed in the Netherlands, and Ramsey is thought to be the first hospital in the British Isles to have it installed. The League of Friends of Ramsey Cottage Hospital raised £268,000 from bequests, donations and events over several years, and purchased the system from Island-based Vannin Healthcare.
Chief Minister Howard Quayle, Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford, local MHKs and dignitaries attended the official presentation of the equipment by the charity’s chairman Leonard Singer at the hospital, 12 April 2019.
EarlySense is of particular benefit to patients who are at risk of developing pressure sores, as it alerts nursing staff when a patient has not moved for a period and needs to be repositioned. The system also alerts nurses when a patient tries to get out of bed or a chair – making it especially useful for those at risk of falls. The sensors operate 24/7 and monitor patients through the night without interrupting sleep.
Mr Singer said:
‘EarlySense offers a state of the art detection system for developing medical conditions and is an ideal purchase for Ramsey Cottage Hospital. It offers high levels of safety and protection for the patient, support for clinicians and medical staff and brings confidence to family and friends of patients.
He added:
‘The League of Friends is delighted to have been able to buy local so that when a query arises, the person who can help is within easy reach. We are proud to have help put the Isle of Man on the global healthcare map.’
Nurses, clinicians and physiotherapists at Ramsey Cottage Hospital have been trained in the use of the system by manufacturers with the support of geriatric consultant Dr Ishaku Pam.
Chief Minister Howard Quayle said:
‘We thank the League of Friends for this extremely generous donation and for their commitment to providing enhanced facilities for the whole community.
‘Our dedicated staff have embraced the new technology – they’ve put the EarlySense system to good use in our rehabilitation programme at the hospital and we're already seeing the benefits. In helping prevent problems developing at an early stage, the system improves chances for the best outcome, in some cases avoiding the need for further in-patient treatment.'
He added:
‘The League of Friends has shown remarkable drive in providing for the needs of patients in Ramsey Cottage Hospital, which serves the whole of the Island. This is an excellent example of the third sector working alongside government to ensure patients here benefit from some of the best healthcare equipment available.’
Pictured l-r by one of the LED screens in Martin Ward:
Dr Ishaku Pam, consultant geriatrician; Leanne Clarke, nurse; Val Thomson, ward manager; Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford; Chief Minister Howard Quayle
