A survey by the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) which found that, on specific doors, ‘there were high risks associated with the attachment of ligatures, primarily over door tops’, has seen the Trust opt for what supplier, Intastop, says is ‘a recognised and highly acclaimed solution’.
Intastop’s Door Top Alarm helps to prevent attempted suicide by detecting when weight is applied to the door top. Intastop explained: “This tamper-proof system can easily be retrofitted to existing doors, and works via a discrete sensory pad installed at the top of a standard door; should a weight be applied, it will alert staff via a preferred method such as an audible alarm, visible light, staff indicator panel, or via a pager/main computer.”
CWP provides inpatient and community mental health services for children, adults, and older people across Cheshire and Wirral. The survey by the Trust’s property management team focused on specific risks associated with en-suitedoors and sourcing viable solutions that still provided both patient privacy and safety.
Daniel Allmark, head of Capital and Property Management, said: “After assessing three different options – removal of en-suitedoors, chamfered door tops, and a door top alarm, the CWP Health & Safety Well-being Sub Committee agreed that the Intastop Door Top Alarm would provide the most robust solution to managing ligature risk. We are now looking at a programme of installation for a number of areas, including adult acute, PICU, and low secure units.”