Amthal delivers out-of-hours access control upgrade for Lion Health Care

Lion Health Care is a large, multi-disciplinary medical practice providing a broad range of primary care services to the local community. With a high volume of patients, staff and visitors moving through the building each day, the site requires carefully managed access across clinical, administrative and restricted areas alike.

The project involved the full replacement and enhancement of an existing access control system, incorporating a combination of updated readers, controllers and wireless handle sets. In total, more than 50 doors across the site were brought into the upgraded system, creating a unified and centrally managed platform that aligns with the operational and governance requirements of a busy medical practice.

Control and usability

Jürgen Versluis (finance and data manager, information governance lead and senior information risk owner at Lion Health Care in Stourbridge) explained: “Maintaining the security of our premises and the sensitive information we hold is a fundamental part of how we operate. On that basis, it was important that any upgrade strengthened both control and day-to-day usability.”

Versluis continued: “The new system gives us a far more effective way in which to manage access across the site, while still aligning with our governance responsibilities. Carrying out the work overnight was essential as it meant there was no disruption to patient care. The team showed a clear understanding of how to work within the demands of a busy healthcare environment.”

Delivering the upgrade within a live healthcare environment required careful planning, with all installation and commissioning conducted outside of normal operating hours to avoid disruption for patients and clinical services alike. An Amthal team consisting of four engineers worked overnight to complete the critical phases of the project, ensuring the system was fully configured, tested and operational.

The upgraded system provides improved control over access permissions, enabling staff to manage entry points with greater accuracy and accountability. The inclusion of wireless handle sets also reduced the need for extensive cabling, allowing for a more efficient installation process across existing doors, while also maintaining the integrity of the building.

Information governance

Throughout the project, attention was given to ensuring the system configuration aligned with information governance standards, supporting auditability and secure access management across clinical and administrative areas. The end result is a scalable solution that can be adapted as the practice evolves, with the flexibility to accommodate future changes in staffing, access requirements or building use.

David Williamson, business development manager at Amthal Fire & Security, informed Security Matters: “This project reflects the importance of delivering technical upgrades in a way that respects the operational realities of healthcare environments. Working overnight allowed us to complete what is a complex installation without interrupting day-to-day services, while in parallel ensuring the system was fully functional and ready for immediate use.”

Williamson concluded: “The outcome is a cohesive access control solution that provides clarity, control and reliability across the entire site.”

*Further information is available online at www.amthal.co.uk