Bluebird House is a specialist UK inpatient facility, providing treatment and care for young people with complex mental health problems which means they pose a risk to themselves or others.
Bluebird House is a specialist UK inpatient facility, providing treatment and care for young people with complex mental health problems which means they pose a risk to themselves or others.
Run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, the center also houses adolescents detained under the Mental Health Act, so the highest standards of care, protection and security are required.
As part of a wider review of security and safety across the trust, Bluebird House was earmarked for a comprehensive video surveillance upgrade and
IDIS technology was chosen as the best-fit for this major project.
Challenges
Video surveillance is a key resource for clinicians, sr. managers and security staff at Bluebird House as they need to work closely together to deal with incidents and reduce risks of harm. Improved video coverage was needed as it would allow ongoing review of care standards and full investigation of any alleged incidents.
Patient privacy is also of paramount importance, so specialist integrator Galeco Communications was selected to implement a solution that would allow authorized monitoring and access of footage for specific rooms and wards. IDIS technology made this easy, and it was also the quickest and least disruptive to install, the most secure against cyberattacks - in compliance with NHS requirements – and yet would deliver the lowest total cost of ownership(TCO). Replacing the center’s aging camera system, the IDIS solution would give complete coverage of corridors, wards and other high-risk areas in all lighting conditions.
Solution
Galeco engineers installed 110 IDIS 12MP Super Fisheye cameras in communal and therapeutic areas inside the facility and over 40 bullets and 13 PTZ cameras cover the exterior. All the cameras are connected to six 32-channel NVRs and managed via IDIS Center video management software (VMS).
All IDIS equipment uses true plug-and-play set up, which minimized disruption and disturbance to patients, while protection against gaps in footage is provided by IDIS Smart Failover ensuring 24/7 continued recording even during network instability or drop-out.
Implemented across three secure wards and two high care units, the 12MP IR Super Fisheyes provide comprehensive coverage much more affordably than two or more fixed lens cameras. Advanced IDIS video capture technology delivers complete high-definition scene coverage in all lighting conditions and allows staff to de-warp in live view as well as playback.
The 5MP bullet cameras, deployed around the building exteriors provide coverage of gardens, courtyards, and car parks. IR LED that allows night-time image capture at distances up to 30m and includes intelligent functions such as active tampering alarms and trip zones and will notify the security team to any breach.
IDIS 31x Zoom IR PTZ cameras are installed along the perimeter to provide clear night-time image capture at distances up to 200m. Each camera is set to perform virtual guard tours at specific times throughout the day and night. Featuring automatic object detection, the cameras recognize and automatically track objects, people or cars capturing useful footage and alert operators of any suspicious activity.
To meet patient privacy requirements, access to live and recorded footage, is limited to staff according to their ward and role. Staff can only view and review footage from their area of responsibility at designated monitoring stations using specialist IDIS monitors designed for high-performance surveillance operations.
To meet future requirements, the new IDIS solution can be linked to the trust’s local area networks (LANs) without increasing cybersecurity concerns, thanks to IDIS’s use of proprietary software which is inherently resilient.
The totally cost-free IDIS Center video management software (VMS) gives security managers and senior staff a complete overview of the entire site from a 24/7 manned and centralized control room. Using the intuitive IDIS Center interface, operators have complete command and control of each camera and access to advanced features and functionality to ensure the secure and smooth day-to-day running of the site.
Results and benefits
The IDIS solution has improved security, safety and care at Bluebird House by providing a complete video record of events. Footage from the 12MP Super Fisheye cameras give a full 360 view without any blind spots with a choice of 6 view modes and crucially provides staff with the ability to de-warp footage retrospectively. Now, if incidents need to be investigated it’s a simple task to retrieve video and provide any high-definition evidence required.
Exterior cameras ensure better safety and security in outdoor communal areas, while security operators can quickly detect and respond to any suspicious activity on the perimeter.
"A key benefit for us is that this new system is so easy to use, and particularly for our clinical staff who can now access and review recordings to help them improve patient care. This video technology gives us extra confidence that our patients and staff are safe and protected," commented Tracey Edwards, Head of Security at Southern Health NHS Trust.
With minimal disruption, and working in this sensitive location, Galeco engineers were able to replace an outdated system with an affordable, high-performance, cybersecure solution that is easy to maintain and operate without any ongoing license fees.