Firm connects patients and families during pandemic

Simply NUC built a number of Intel small form factor PCs with Zoom and Displaynote Launcher installed which were added to mobile trolleys and COVID wards.

The trolley allows mobile access to patients in wards who are unable to use an iPad or who are very unwell allowing them to communicate securely with their families and loved ones during visiting restrictions within the hospital during the pandemic.

Jonny Smith, Chief Executive, Simply NUC said: “We watched the Covid 19 pandemic move across the world and come closer and closer to home. We heard of people being affected on far shores, hear of local people and then hear of friends being affected.

“As it moved closer and we watched the numbers rise, I began to struggle, emotionally and mentally, that people were dying and at times they were dying alone. We wondered if there was something Simply NUC could do to help.

“Knowing that people could not visit family members in hospital, I knew that we could not create an environment where someone could hold their loved ones hand as they lay in the ward, but we could create a solution that would allow them to be in contact with their loved ones via video calls from their ward. These Intel small form factor PC’s now allow that to happen.”

Leigh Brown, ICT Project Manager, South Eastern HSC Trust, added: “We were contacted by Simply NUC to offer their knowledge and expertise to help those suffering with Coronavirus make contact with their loved ones whilst based in a ward environment.

“After several meetings we agreed to pilot the devices in our Inpatient Ward Block in the Ulster Hospital and configure these to be compatible so that hospital staff could facilitate meetings between patients and their family. Already we have received lots of positive feedback that this technology is helping reduce patient and family anxiety by maintaining regular contact. We are now looking at how this can be extended to other areas across the Trust.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you