Earlier in the year, the DSFS Clinical Engineering team were nominated for the highly prestigious HSJ Patient Safety Award in the ‘best use of technology’ category.

They were pipped to the post by Moorfields Eye Hospital, but we congratulate the team for all their hard work and for making it down to the final six – you’re still winners in our eyes!
Our Clinical Engineers are integral in keeping all of our medical equipment on site working and up to date. They are also crucial in making sure the equipment can be found when necessary (vital during the ward moves that have been such a part of our Covid-19 response) across a 530 bed site.

Having researched the iFit RFID tracking system a priority list of equipment was identified and equipment from across the Trust including the Equipment Library, ward-based bladder scanners, ECG recorders, and the Trusts bariatric and low beds were found, tagged,
and added to the database.

By the start of 2020, a good majority of this list had been fitted with an RFiD tag and
everything was looking good and we were meeting the stated targets and aims of the system

This has meant a reduction in lost equipment which has meant better value for money and we are sure it will go from strength to strength – with upgrades and new solutions already planned, and with multiple developments being considered for the future.

As the Trust starts to de-escalate its Covid-19 activities, all the equipment will need to be returned to its original locations. The additional equipment CPAP and non-invasive ventilators purchased for the Trust will have to find a permanent home or placed in storage and all of it will be done under the watchful eye of iFIT. In addition, all the equipment loaned to the Trust, an extra 211 medical devices, will need to be recovered and returned to the companies who loaned them to us. A task that yet again will be made easier with the temporary RFID loan tags attached to them.

Stuart Barton, Medical Engineer said: “In the Clinical Engineering Department we are veryproud of the work we have done over the last year supporting the Trust and DSFS during the pandemic, we are pleased the hard work of the team has been recognised in this way. The use of the RFiD tracking system in the hospital has allowed us to work more efficiently and helped to keep track of critical medical equipment during these unprecedented times.”