Skyguard’s MySOS Device Safeguards Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust’s Outreach Staff

5 Apr 2016

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust has turned to Skyguard’s BS 8484 approved personal alarms to safeguard their community-based staff tasked with providing in-home services.

Skyguard’s keyfob sized MySOS devices were implemented as a means of discreet protection for lone working staff to carry on their person. Accredited to BS 8484 standards, the device is equipped with the latest mobile phone and GPS tracking technology.

When the user raises the alarm, an alert is instantly sent to Skyguard’s dedicated Incident Management Centre (IMC) along with the GPS location. Using the alarm’s two-way audio, trained Controllers will first listen in and assess the situation before talking to the user and taking appropriate action. Using the escalation instructions provided, the Controller will, if necessary, directly contact the local police control room, bypassing the 999 service for a faster response. All audio and actions from the incident are digitally recorded and can be used as legal evidence if required.

Tom Sanders – Health and Safety Advisor for the Trust explains, “There is currently more focus on providing services out in the community. In Derbyshire, we have several areas of deprivation with high unemployment which makes relationships between community staff and patients difficult to establish and maintain.”

Distributing the devices amongst their wide ranging community-based teams has increased the confidence of those attending in-home appointments. The device is small enough to provide adequate protection whilst not being obvious to an aggressor. Sanders continues, “It’s efficient, easy to use, has great coverage and the back-up and technical support are the most impressive elements.”

“Our staff now have more confidence going into potentially tricky situations, knowing that help is at hand should it be necessary to activate the device.”

Skyguard Marketing Director, Will Murray added “We’re delighted to add Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust to our ever growing healthcare client base. Skyguard now provide lone worker protection to over 100 NHS Trusts across the UK and this continues to grow based on the solid reputation we’ve built across the sector in recent years.”