ELECTRONIC hand scanners which allow hospital staff to clock in and out of their shifts have sparked concerns over hygiene.
The scanners, which recognise staff members’ hands to verify their identity and involve the use of a keypad to type in employee numbers, have been installed at hospitals in the North East.
Since April, Newcastle Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust began the installation of 79 Schlage hand scanners at a cost of £1,500 – a total of £118,500.
But members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) say there have been initial problems with the system and concerns have been raised about the hygiene of the scanners.
Glenn Turp, North East regional director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “Members have been telling us that there were some initial problems with the system not working properly, but hopefully this is a teething problem that can be quickly addressed.
“We’ve also had a few concerns from members about how the keypads are kept clean, because there is still a requirement for all staff to physically key in their unique number when clocking in and out.
“It’s important to note that there are merits to a central electronic clock-in, clock-out system, because it can ensure more efficient rostering across the whole Trust, and ensure safe staffing levels are maintained at all times.
“It should also ensure that staff can make the case to be properly remunerated for any additional hours that they do”.
So far 69 hand-recognition scanners have been installed at Newcastle Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust. Forty five are to be used at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the system is also up and running at the Freeman Hospital.
A similar scheme is being used at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Gateshead Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. It is believed installation of scanners is also under way at Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
The system is not intended to restrict access to wards and departments, but it is meant to reduce the administrative burden on busy staff.
It can also generate automatic rosters, with the aim of ensuring the most appropriate deployment of staff, and to reduce paperwork. Beforehand, there was a manual, paper-based system.
However, hospital bosses have insisted the hand-recognition scanners are in accordance with hygiene policies.
A spokesman for Newcastle Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “All staff are advised to ensure their hands are visibly clean when using hand scanners.
“To maintain a safe environment, based on health and safety, alcohol gel dispensers are intentionally not located in any areas where the dispenser is not able to be supervised by staff, this includes in the vicinity of the scanners.
“In accordance with the Trust’s hand hygiene policy, all staff are required to clean their hands when entering and leaving a clinical environment, irrespective of the use of the scanners.”
