Comelit ViP door entry system helps secure Glasgow hospital

11 Dec 2014

Comelit UK, part of the global Comelit manufacturing group, has been awarded a large-­scale project to supply an IP video door entry system to Southern General Hospital, Glasgow. The installation, part of a major £800 million renovation project, will see the high-­volume medical facility become the largest hospital campus in Scotland and Comelit’s largest IP system outside London.

NHS Scotland required a system that featured no restrictions on the number of entrance panels and monitors and one that was easily scalable, allowing for further expansion to accommodate new buildings within the extensive site. This requirement made the Comelit ViP system ideal for the project, because the technology involved makes it possible to connect an infinite number of users in simultaneous audio and video conversations, with no distance limitations.

Contractors for the hospital site, Brookfield Multiplex and Boston Networks, tasked Comelit with delivering a robust and reliable system running over a single dedicated LAN network to connect a 1,109 single-­ bed adult hospital, as well as a 256 bed children’s hospital and 30 operating theatres. The network installed specifically for the door entry and Static Nurse Call system includes a total of 80 single-­way systems combined to make an 80 entrance, 80-­user single system.

Virtual monitor dongles 

Internally, 60 virtual monitor dongles will be installed on Static Nurse Call tablets and touchscreen Windows 7 computers, enabling the management of visitors and staff coming in and out of the buildings and also for staff to communicate between different wards. The dongle can turn any tablet or touchscreen computer into a virtual door entry monitor capable of running Comelit’s ViP software. Comelit has allowed for open SIP integration, meaning other third-­‐party devices can be integrated into the system, demonstrating further its commitment to designing flexible, open protocol door entry systems. 20 Planux touchscreen monitors will also be used, allowing for simple, complete control and customisation of certain functions.

80 of Comelit’s Vandalcom one-­button entrance panels, which can withstand even the most extreme acts of vandalism and have a IK rating of 10, will be installed at each external entrance point, together with 6 post-­mounted entrance panels.

Reliability at its core

Comelit’s ViP technology is ideal for creating a high-­performance video entry phone system suited to large-­scale, modern-­day developments and requirements. ViP is also a peer-­to-­peer system (non-­server based), thereby eliminating any central point of failure and adding to the overall reliability of the system. Southern General Hospital is currently the largest building site in Scotland. It is due for completion in early 2015 and will become operational a few months later. From 2016, it will be one of 4 major trauma centres where specialist services are based as part of a new national major trauma network throughout the whole of Scotland.

Brian Iceton, Comelit’s UK Managing Director, said, “The adaptability of our ViP technology meant that we were able to work closely with the contractors to supply a high-­quality system which allows great flexibility, reliability and, above all, will keep all patients and visitors secure. We met the requirements specified by the developers and are proud to have been involved in such a large-­scale public sector project.”