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The NHS Switch on to Intelligent Glass

As the UK’s leading manufacturer of Switchable Smart Glass solutions, Intelligent Glass are trusted by some of the world’s most important brands and services, adding a responsibility to our commitment to quality, customer care and product development. The applications of this incredible technology in healthcare fit-out applications in particular aren’t just impressive, they’re important, offering a far more superior solution to privacy requirements than current solutions can. The NHS is a recent adopter of Smart Glass, using it to future-proof their state of the art facilities with cutting edge and practical privacy that not only offers a great solution to their needs, but also offers much more.

NHS Switchable Glass Privacy screen

Helping to revolutionise the way patients are treated, Switchable Smart Glass affects the way a health care facility impresses on patients and their loved ones, helping them feel cared for and safe in the knowledge their privacy is a top priority. Intelligent Glass have recently supplied Switchable technology for a project at an NHS Hospital in Paisley, who had 42 panels of 12mm Laminate Switchable Glass installed into 5 of their critical patient areas on their ICU ward. Speed was a highly important aspect for this project, encouraging contractors Indeglas (working with Kier) to turn to Intelligent Glass. Not only this, but we also boast a solid reputation for the quality of our products; being world renowned for the impact of our research and development and offering the very best manufacturing facilities possible, ensuring that the solution delivered for this project is not only effective for the requirements, but also offering long lasting service and the best of British manufacturing quality. The technology was used to great effect, allowing healthcare professionals to offer cutting-edge and practical privacy to patients whilst still being able to monitor them visually without having to disturb them.

With this installation, staff are able to change the privacy glass that shrouds the room instantly from a designated nurse’s control station. This offers a unique privacy solution that is highly practical, allowing critical patients and their family to enjoy the benefit of privacy whilst giving those responsible for their care a fast option to be able to monitor them should they need to. In the event of a critical emergency, the glass can be switched from frosted to clear in an instant, allowing complete visibility into the space so they can begin to respond appropriately without even having to go into the area itself. Likewise, should staff require to simply check on the status of a patient occupying an area covered by the glass, they can do so without even leaving their current post, allowing them to potentially multi-task in cases where the patient is stable but still requires monitoring, helping to save on time and efficiency on a strained workforce.

healthcare switchable fitout

In comparison to alternative privacy solutions such as curtains or blinds, which can either be cumbersome or impractical in critical situations, Laminate Switchable Smart glass offers a stylish, classy and safe solution that is easy to clean and maintain and can be integrated into most rooms with a space for interior windows, reducing clutter and additional installation needs in the room itself, as you would need with curtain rails or tracks. Those precious few seconds that can be wasted when pulling back blinds or curtains that cover the patient can be used to more productive means, and could, in some cases even save lives. As well as this far more effective privacy solution for care environments, Intelligent Glass also boast the hygiene benefits of using Switchable technology compared to curtains, making it both potentially effective and preventative.

This application indeed maximises this benefit, allowing the glass to be cleaned in the same way that any other glass would be. In a critical care environment, hygiene is of the utmost importance and can mean the difference between life and death if not practised properly.  It is well documented that disposable hospital curtains in the UK are only required to be replaced every 6 months, leading to the risk of germs and substandard hygiene in a busy environment where very overworked staff are often dealing with critical issues that take priority over curtain cleaning or replacement. Laminate Switchable Smart Glass in a setting such as this offers a far easier to clean surface than curtains or blinds can, helping to free up time for staff in the event of a serious hygiene issue as well as potentially offering a more hygienic environment generally if the glass is cleaned regularly.

Switchable technology offers superior healthcare fitout and construction privacy solutions that can change the way these environments operate, helping save time, money and potentially even lives. The NHS aren’t the only one’s switching on too, in fact, Intelligent Glass have supplied Switchable Smart technology to health care establishments all over the world for a variety of privacy requirements. The range of technology offered by Intelligent Glass offers a solution to so many potential health care requirements, from our Fire Rated Switchable Smart Safety Glass, which offers additional protection to those vulnerable patients and expensive equipment, to the incredible Sound Insulating Switchable Smart Glass, which may be suitable for applications where individuals may be in deep pain, such as maternity or trauma wards, for example.

Jamie Conroy, Sales Director at Intelligent Glass commented, ‘This project ranks as one amongst many of a long line of health care solutions we have provided not just to the NHS, but private groups and dental practises also. What makes this one so special however is the way this hospital makes use of the wide range of benefits Switchable Smart technology can offer, both from a privacy control standpoint and the hygiene factor also, which is highly important in a critical care environment. We are encouraged to see more NHS hospitals switch on to our Smart Glass technology in a climate where resources are stretched, offering a genuine and very real testament to the advantages it can bring.’

Interested?

Intelligent Glass offers a wide range of switchable smart glass solutions with options including toughened glass, laminated panels, smart glass windows and the retrofit self-adhesive switchable film.

If you would like further information, a pricing quote, or to discuss ideas for using our switchable smart glass and smart film products, please get in touch using the form below, or call us on +44 (0)1226 351 759.