Lone workers concerned about their safety can now trigger alerts just by ticking an ‘alert box’ on a paper form rather than reaching for their mobile device or smartphone which could arouse suspicion. The new Lone Worker Support application from Guardian24 has been integrated with Anoto digital pen technology from DevelopIQ – this allows a user to write on a paper form and have it subsequently recognised and converted into electronic data.
Should the lone worker’s safety be compromised they can easily summon emergency help by the discreet use of the digital pen, without alerting the source of the threat. Once triggered by the digital pen, the Guardian24 application on the BlackBerry smartphone opens a communications channel with security services or nominated respondents, relaying live audio and providing up-to-date details about the user and their location.
The joint solution has been developed in partnership with the ICT team at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust where it is being used by the midwifery team. Richard Sargent, digital pen project lead, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said, “This solution has been extremely well received by our community midwives who often have their BlackBerry smartphones in their bag and not readily to hand. The fact that they can now trigger an alert with two strokes of their digital pen gives them much more comfort during their community visits.”
Geoff Hayter, strategic channel partner director, Guardian24, said, “The application that Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is using has already delivered efficiency savings of £220,000 within nine months.”
