Petherton Resource Centre Case Study

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 15:57

Vistamatic’s Secure Vision Panels are often installed in very different situations. The product therefore has to be versatile and bespoke changes are sometimes needed. This was the case at a recent installation at Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust’s Petherton Resource Centre in Bristol.

The building which was purpose built in the 1960s as a residential care home for the elderly, was taken over by the Trust in the early 1990s. A steering group consisting of health and safety professionals, health care professionals and other local professionals was put together to project manage the refurbishment. Mental Health service users were also involved in the evaluation and decision making process.

Since the Trust took over the building it has been completely refurbished and has had a new wing added. The refurbishment was completed in September 2008 and now provides secondary mental health care  to the South Bristol Community.

Brian Levy Health and Safety Advisor at the Trust  said ‘we needed Vistamatic’s Secure Vision Panels due to nature of some of the mental illnesses treated. Service users may become uncomfortable, irritable and at times, violent. Because of this staff need to be able to monitor these situations and at times, intervene.

’There is a panic cord in each treatment room. In any situation where staff feel threatened, or are concerned that the service user may be a risk to themselves, they can pull the panic cord and staff will be alerted. Vistamatic’s Secure Vision Panels are used across the Trust’s centres for monitoring treatment rooms. They have proved to be by far the best solution and enable staff to keep an eye on those in treatment, without disrupting the treatment or disturbing those administering it. Prior to the installation, staff would have had to open the door and risk disrupting the session.’

The ten panels are made of a combination of security  glasses and are only operable from the outside of the room, ensuring they can’t be tampered with from the inside. This is a bespoke system Vistamatic have created for the Trust and their installation has benefitted staff and patients alike.