University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and SCC

The overview

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has become the first UK healthcare organisation to deploy innovative new thermographic technology to protect front-line NHS workers and patients from a second wave of COVID-19 coronavirus cases, leading the way on the UK’s road to recovery, in partnership with SCC.

UHNM, which runs Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford, is a long-standing strategic customer of SCC, who installed the first of eight thermographic cameras at Royal Stoke University Hospital in May 2020.

The ceiling-mounted camera unit is part of SCC’s Thermographic Screening solutions, which is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and uses devices ranging from handheld to fixed multi-camera systems to record body temperature and identify anyone displaying signs of fever, with real-time alerts to enable interception and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.

Cameras have been installed at Royal Stoke’s radiology outpatient department and the entrance of its headquarters with an additional six units to be deployed strategically around the hospitals in key areas designed to prevent potential COVID-19 carriers from entering and spreading the virus. As UHNM continues its recovery from the COVID-19, it will introduce green areas, for non COVID-19 patients, and blue areas, for COVID-19 patients only, and plans to install each of its cameras at entrances to its green areas to enable the interception of anybody displaying signs of fever at the earliest possible opportunity.

“SCC’s Thermographic Screening solutions enable us to use technology as an early warning signal to protect against complacency and a second outbreak. As the R-rate reduces and lockdown measures are eased further, the number of infections may increase; our new thermographic camera technology will help UHNM defend against COVID-19 now and in the long-term, as one of the most significant investments in our IM&T technology strategy and roadmap.”

UHNM’s investment in thermographic technology is the first and most significant following a £10m commitment made by the Denise Coates Foundation to UHNM Charity.

Mark Bostock, Director of Information Management and Technology for UHNM, said: “As the UK continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure people remain safe and well, particularly the most vulnerable people who are most often found in hospital outpatient departments. We’re proud to be leading the way and thanks to the generosity of the Denise Coates Foundation we are the first NHS Trust to deploy thermographic technology, to instill confidence and ensure we are alerted to potential carriers of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases at the earliest opportunity.