Despite the huge number of staff, Net2 is still simple because the software is very intuitive. It’s so easy to set up individual groups and different access levels for each group. The interface means that training other staff to use Net2 takes less than an hour.

– Steve Edwards, Conquest Hospital Security

Solution

Vistec Systems of Crawley were the installation company responsible for the project. Net2 access control is now working across all five of the sites, including the main hospital in Hastings, Bexhill Hospital, the Irvine unit, St Anne’s and the Woodlands unit. Net2 connects to the remote buildings and between floors using the hospital’s existing network. A total of 6,500 user cards and 83 doors are now secured by Net2.

John says: “These sites have a mix of different staff that work for different trusts, the ability to clearly define who has access to which site is essential and Net2 provides us with this.”

Steve Edwards controls everything from one PC at the Conquest Site. Steve says: “Despite the huge number of staff, Net2 is still simple because the software is very intuitive. It is so easy to set up individual groups and different access levels for each group. The interface means that training other staff to use Net2 takes less than an hour.”

Result
Conquest also found that some of the more specific characteristics of Net2 fitted their needs. Steve says: “We are subject to opportunist theft but using the Net2 events screen we can see who was in the area at the time. It means we can narrow down the culprits and also deter thieves from stealing in the first place. The emergency lock down of different areas is also really appealing, in the case of any eventuality, such as a chemical spill or the need to create a temporary mortuary,
we can prevent access to select areas immediately.”

The hospital also houses an essential blood bank for the local area. However there are strict EU guidelines that must be adhered to when handling blood. Each time the blood bank is opened someone must be accountable for the action and blood can only be signed in or out by a qualified member of staff.

Access to the blood bank is restricted to those members of staff via Net2. John says: “Having access control on our blood banks is extremely important. Without it the process would be more time consuming and less accurate, we can quickly access reports on who has opened the doors and when; we have total confidence in our system. We have a real mixture of doors that have to be controlled at many different levels. This is the best period of security stability we have enjoyed in a long time.”