Chase Farm Hospital, the newest hospital in the NHS, recently opened its doors to patients, welcoming in not just local people but a new era of digital healthcare technology. Self check-in kiosks, an online patient portal and a mobile appointment manager app are just some of the innovations that will help patients to have greater involvement in their care. In the advanced arena, Medstor's stylish solutions will not only maximise space and streamline materials handling procedures, but will also operate in conjunction with the hospital’s Genesis Automation system. Once up and running, this traceability and inventory management platform will help the hospital to improve patient safety and save money.
Medstor has had a long and successful relationship with Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust so when it came to equipping the new hospital, the trust wanted to continue using the system that had operated so well in its other facilities. Medstor’s work at Chase Farm Hospital was carried out in two phases:
- Phase one: the provision of over 370 HTM 71 full height and base cabinets, for use across the hospital from the chemotherapy unit to the day centre. These cabinets offer the highest level of organisation, making the most of all available space. They also allow for easy location of goods and eliminate stock outs. The implementation of the Genesis Automation system will give these cabinets even more functionality by ensuring the hospital has complete visibility of the supply chain, from procurement to patient.
- Phase two: the provision of 250 procedure trolleys and mobile carts in a variety of sizes and heights, to be used throughout the hospital. Flexible, robust and easy to manoeuvre, the trolleys and carts not only provide safe and efficient storage space but are also moveable hygienic work surfaces that bring essential items to exactly where they are needed, quickly and easily.
Natalie Forrest, Chief Executive of Chase Farm Hospital, said: “It’s exciting to welcome patients into our brand new hospital. We are very proud and know it will offer the people of Enfield, as well as the wider population we serve, a brilliant environment to deliver the very best of modern healthcare.”
The team at Chase Farm Hospital worked closely with Medstor throughout. Regular planning meetings, the supply of drawings and samples for review and extensive trialling all played an important part in making sure the hospital received storage products that fitted its needs exactly. The Chase Farm Hospital project illustrates Medstor’s commitment to supporting the delivery of exceptional products with equally exceptional customer care. If a bespoke design was required, the Medstor design team was only too happy to oblige, for example, by changing the height and handle placement of the trolleys and carts so they fitted under the worktops. Main contractor Integrated Health Projects (IHP) ensured every element of the building and fit-out of the new hospital ran smoothly. The success of this close collaboration between hospital, contractors and suppliers is evidenced by the fact that the entire project went from drawing board to opening in just four years.
