Thanks to our funding, patients who need blood tests in our Emergency Department (ED) at Northwick Park Hospital are now being given restaurant style buzzers.

In such a busy environment, patients often don’t hear their name being called, but that’s a thing of the past. Patients who need a blood test but are hard of hearing, have language barriers or are vulnerable are given a device which buzzes and flashes lights when it’s their turn to be seen.

Ellie Warwick, advanced clinical practitioner in the ED, tells us more.

“We launched the project a few weeks ago and are already seeing a difference. We purchased 40 devices and are currently using them for patients who need a blood test.

“Not only do they save staff time trying to locate a patient in our busy waiting room, but patients who are vulnerable, in a wheelchair for example, can make themselves known and we can help them get to where they need to be for their test.

“This is a pilot and we are surveying patients to find out how they feel the buzzers worked for them, and we’re asking staff how efficient they are.

“If the pilot is successful, we’d like to get more devices for patients who need ECG’s and our ultimate goal is to have a buzzer for every patient for the whole of their emergency department journey.

“Thank you to LNWH Charity for funding this project.”