FULL-DOOR LIGATURE ALARM

ADDRESSING SAFETY ALERTS

When conducting research for the full-door alarm, you told us that door-top alarms only address one high-risk ligature point and patients will be able to identify the next ligature point on the door.

The recent nationwide safety alert made this theory a tragic reality as it reported that a patient had taken their own life by creating a ligature on the latch of their bedroom door. Unfortunately this was was not detected by the door-top alarm installed on the door.

Together, we can help to protect vulnerable people through good design.

Clinicians told us that false alarms with alternative door alarm systems were common and were often triggered when the patient's door was in an open position (e.g. when the door was leaned upon.)

They also stated that in their experience, 100% of ligature attempts were made on closed doors.

This is backed up by evidence from The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) which tells us that there is a direct correlation between patient privacy and self-harm:

• 90% of ligature attempts occur in the patient's bedroom or bathroom (private space)
• 91% of these occur under intermittent observations

The greatest risk is therefore when a patient's door is closed. However, we also know from feedback and research, that risk can quickly evolve within mental health inpatient environments. That's why we've future-proofed our full-door alarm to detect ligatures when the door is in open and closed positions.

Along with reduced tradespeople and greater accountability, the fully wireless alarm system has minimal infrastructure - causing less disruption to live wards.

Once installed, the alarm is completely invisible when patients are in their room with the door closed. Helping to create a safe, therapeutic environment that facilitates recovery.