Each consultation room is equipped not only with a call-point to trigger standard calls, but also a special panic button so occupants can raise an alarm should an attack take place or an emergency situation arise. The four reception areas in the three-storey building are equipped with emergency call-signaling strip-switches fitted discreetly underneath reception desks to allow staff to call for assistance quickly and easily using a finger, fist, foot or elbow.

Standard/non-emergency calls are confined to the storey of the building on which they are made to alert the relevant staff only and not disturb staff on other floors. For example, a call made on the second floor will be reported to the second floor only and a call made on the first floor will be reported on the first floor only, and so on. However, if an emergency or attack call is made, the system will go into full alarm and the call will show on every display throughout the entire building.

Says Martin Garnett of Emergency Systems Ltd, the Manchester-based specialist electrical company that installed the system: Quantec can be tailored to suit the needs of any medical facility and is therefore very cost-effective. It can also be easily modified or extended should the need arise in the future. The system plays a key role in ensuring that staff time is utilized effectively, disturbance is minimized and staff and patients are attended to quickly in an emergency.

C-TEC's SigTEL disabled refuge system is also in operation at the site. In the event of an emergency, SigTEL facilitates effective two-way communication between building management and people located in the refuge area to, firstly, assist rescue teams in determining where assistance is required and, secondly, to reassure people help is on the way. A range of C-TEC PDA range induction loops have also been installed to ensure the hard of hearing can access to the services provided at the centre.

One of the UK's leading manufacturers of life-safety equipment, C-TEC is currently celebrating the approval of its factory processes by the three major independent certification bodies the LPCB, the BSI and the VDS.

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