Nurse Call Systems for
Hospitals

Courtney Thorne Nurse Call System FAQs

• How are Courtney Thorne nurse call systems for hospitals designed with the hospital environment in mind?

  We have specifically engineered our wireless nurse call systems to meet the unique demands of hospital environments in a variety of ways. For one, all call points in a Courtney Thorne nurse call system are equipped with a cardiac or emergency pull-on, push-off switch. This provides a straightforward way for staff to alert colleagues during emergencies, helping teams to better coordinate their responses.

  Infection prevention is another important consideration in the design of our hospital nurse call equipment. Our call points feature easy-to-clean surfaces and antimicrobial materials, which will help your staff to maintain standards of hygiene in wards and patient rooms. We’ve also incorporated easily replaceable labels in all of our systems to help keep call points clearly identified and in good condition – without the entire unit needing to be replaced. These practical design features help our systems withstand frequent use, regular cleaning and the everyday demands of hospital care.

• Are Courtney Thorne nurse call systems for hospitals compliant?

  The Altra Health and Connect Health systems, our nurse call systems that are best suited to the hospital environment, are both designed to comply with HTM 08-03 regulations. One of the most important elements of compliance when it comes to nurse call systems for hospitals is the statutory requirement for hospital management/decision makers to ensure that bedhead services are safe, fit for purpose, and comply with all statutes, relevant codes of practice, and standards.

  Secondly, HTM 08-03 states that it is important to have in-built flexibility of service provisions at the bedhead, and where a room undergoes a change of use, the system should be capable of seamlessly changing the nurse-call facility within that room – both from a software and a hardware point of view.

• What are the benefits of using Cat 1 Radio?

  When wireless nurse call systems are deployed in acute hospital sites where there are other wireless devices in the vicinity, there needs to be assurance that there will be no interference that could lead to one or the other service not operating correctly. European Standards categorise Short Range Radio Devices regarding their reliability, robustness, and susceptibility to interferences. Cat 1 Radio is described in the European Standard as “to be used where the short-range device may have inherent safety of human life implications”. This makes Cat 1 Radio the standard of choice when it comes to deploying nurse call systems for hospitals.

• Are Courtney Thorne nurse call systems for hospitals protected?

  All of our nurse call systems for hospitals are protected under warranty. Our Altra Health products for hospitals come with a three-year warranty, while our Connect Health products have a one-year warranty. Under these warranties, parts manufactured by Courtney Thorne are covered fully, whereas all supplementary elements that were not produced by us (for example, beds, chairs, and floor mats) are not covered. Once your initial warranty expires, you will also be provided with the option of different levels of service contracts, which function as warranty extensions. These can be built bespoke for the exact needs of your hospital or healthcare organisation. You can learn more about our service contracts here.

• How long does it take to install a nurse call system for hospitals?

  The length of time it takes to install a nurse call system for hospitals is dependent on the size of the system required. On average, our nurse call solutions won’t take any longer than 4-5 days to fully install and set up; however, a smaller hospital ward system may well be completed within as little as 1-2 days. With all the upgrades and bespoke features we can also offer, installation time can vary depending on what your hospital requires from the system, so for more information, be sure to get in touch with us.

• Is training available for our nurse call systems for hospitals?

  We offer training courses that provide valuable information and cover all aspects of our nurse call systems for hospitals, ranging from refresher courses to add to your knowledge to full-on training sessions for you and your team. As well as this, we can also offer you a series of user guides and how-to videos, which are available on our website, to help you get to grips with your new nurse call system. All of these resources can be accessed or learned more about from our dedicated support hub.

• Where are our nurse call systems for hospitals built?

  Courtney Thorne, a UK-based company, boasts a dedicated in-house research and development team committed to innovating and refining our nurse call systems for hospitals. Our manufacturing operations span three locations in Southern England, enabling us to produce high-quality goods and support local economies effectively. By keeping our R&D and manufacturing teams in close proximity, we foster seamless collaboration and facilitate the swift implementation of new ideas. To find out more about where our nurse call systems for hospitals are manufactured and how we operate, you can visit our Where We Work page.

• What are the different types of call bells in hospitals?

  A call bell is a device used to alert or signal for attention, typically by pressing a button that produces a sound. In the context of a hospital setting, a call bell (usually a cord or button) is the mechanism used by patients to alert nurses to their need for urgent assistance. Within our nurse call systems for hospitals, you will see a variety of different types of call bells, including the following:

   

  • Patient Call Button: A large button illuminated in orange on the system, usually situated by the patient’s bedside. This call button is the largest and most visible across all of our systems.
  • Staff Emergency Switch: A smaller button located under the main patient call button; to be used by staff in emergency situations.
  • Cardiac Unit: A call button seen on our Altra Health Cardiac units, specifically designed to alert nurses to cardiac episodes.
  • Push Lead: Another call bell seen in our Altra range, our Altra push leads are used as an alternative call bell for patients and are designed to be easily accessed and used from bedsides and bathrooms.