Caring for life-limited children in the East Midlands, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People was created to help parents and children, by providing care and support across many vital areas. Effectively doubling the size and capacity of the hospice, a brand new therapy wing designed to plug the gap in the provision of care services for young people has recently been opened. As part of the £4million expansion project, management at the hospice were keen to employ the latest access control technology to aid security at the site, whilst also providing older children with as much independence as possible.

Bespoke solution
Using product sourced via Norbain, IT hardware/software engineering specialists Bramatt Computing of Leicestershire installed Paxton P75 proximity readers and hands free interfaces on 17 doors around the hospice, activated via Paxton Net2 proximity fobs and Net2 hands free tokens. This has proved highly beneficial, as many young people at the hospice use wheelchairs and the use of proximity fobs affords them independence, negating the need to ask a member of staff to open doors.

Doors are managed by Paxton Net2 plus Ethernet based access control units, communicating via a dedicated IT network to Net2 Control Software. Facilities Manager Richard Porter explains: "When we originally planned the access control system, we looked at where we wanted to be in five years time and worked towards that goal. Taking this long-term view, we required technology that would provide a high level of performance, be future-proofed, and have a depth of back-up from a flexible installer. Paxton technology backed by Bramatt Computing has delivered that goal."

Lee Attwood, Sales Manager for Bramatt Computing continues: "Thanks to the usual high-quality of Norbain support and the skill of our engineers, we were able to work around the hospice extension build program to ensure a smooth installation."

System impact
Using the Paxton Net2 system, simple software-based programming affords fast and detailed adjustment, integration, and reporting for the hospice's access control network. "Since the system was introduced, we have been so impressed that we have added a further 5 doors to the network," explains Richard.

Full system control from a management PC allows Richard to assign individual users and doors with unique priorities. Adding, barring and changing users' access permissions on a per-door basis are achieved quickly and easily. "Since the system has been introduced we have found that providing older residents with their own fobs has enriched their stay immensely, giving them another level of independence, whilst ensuring their safety." says Richard.

Concluding, Richard comments: "Children and young people with life-limiting conditions are now living longer as a result of advances in medical science, therefore more hospice care facilities and services are needed over a longer period of time. Also, they often have more complex needs and difficult symptoms to manage, so our new facilities, including the latest access control system, will allow us to care more proactively for those changing needs - to help our children and young people to live an independent and fulfilling life as possible."