Security expert, Abloy UK, has supplied NHS Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with the eCLIQ electromechanical solution for onsite facilities management and security.

The hospital provides an extensive range of healthcare services over eight floors and employs more than 2,800 staff. 

And it is the only district general hospital in the NHS Highland Partnership, which owns over 200 sites throughout the health board area.

The sheer size of the hospital estate requires a large facilities management team to oversee building maintenance and environmental services.

Plant rooms, high- and low-voltage rooms, and roof hatches are accessed daily to maintain the building – along with a helipad that needs securing and opening when air ambulances need to land.

NHS Raigmore approached Abloy UK to discuss a key management solution that would meet the latest regulations, has the capability to monitor the use of keys, and can easily revoke access from lost or stolen keys.  

Managing access

Abloy UK recommended eCLIQ, a web-based locking and key management solution.

And the system was installed throughout the estate, with 82 locks fitted by Raigmore’s facilities management team and 42 keys issued to staff and contractors.

Installation was easy as the cylinders do not require a power output. 

eCLIQ uses web management software, providing valuable insights into when, where, and by whom the keys are used.

Facilities managers have a detailed overview and control of access across the hospital as the system logs the time and user of the key every time it is used.

If problems occur, it is easy to determine who last entered the room to find out more information in a substantially-reduced time.

And the risk of unauthorised access is reduced with web management software controlling the validation and revoking of keys.

Likewise, former employees who do not return their key will no longer have access because their key can simply be removed from the system. 

Operational benefits

eCLIQ also provides life-saving operational benefits during air emergencies, as staff no longer need to locate the helipad key to access the pad.

Colin McEwen, design lead for estate management at the hospital, said: “New legislation required connectivity of assets and Abloy suggested eCLIQ as a solution.

“The mechanical locks, combined with the benefits that connectivity offers, have proved a great asset to the hospital.

“Previously, when a key got lost, the only way to ensure security was maintained was to change our cylinders. eCLIQ has negated this, saving us money and time.

“We have set access to coincide with staff shift patterns and any attempted access out of these times is revoked.

“The system has also made it easier to see who is accessing rooms.”

Rory Grant, regional specification manager at Abloy UK, added: “eCLIQ offers Raigmore Hospital a high level of security and is ideal for areas such as plant rooms and roof hatches.

“The system has performed very well since installation and we are optimistic about extending it throughout the NHS Highland area.”