Chloride, one of Europe's leading suppliers of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and services, and Stewart Associates, a consultant building design specialists, today announced that Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust is utilising Chloride's 80-NET UPS system to protect their vital Cardiac Catheter equipment from power disruptions and impurities in the power supply.

The system is being used in both acute hospitals within Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust - Birmingham City Hospital and Sandwell General Hospital. Established in April 2002 , the Trust employs over 6000 staff, has approximately 1000 beds and serves a population of over 500,000 across western and central Birmingham , Sandwell, and its surrounding areas. Its staff are trained to meet the community's requirements for healthcare services in some of the most diverse and economically deprived communities in the UK. The Cardiac Catheter is used to diagnose the exact site and severity of any narrowing of the coronary arteries. Narrowing of the arteries can severely weaken the blood and oxygen intake of the heart muscle, leading to conditions such as angina, heart failure and other heart conditions.

"The Cardiac Catheter equipment is a vital piece of equipment for the hospital to diagnose heart related illnesses and diseases," says Stewart Associates' Managing Director, Steve Mason. "The hospital needed a resilient UPS system to protect the equipment from power disruptions that could have a detrimental effect on patient care."

The hospital consulted Stewart Associates and, following a review of the equipment and the requirements the hospital had set, it recommended Chloride's UPS systems as the de-facto solution to support the Cardiac Catheter equipment. Following the consultation phase, Chloride and Stewart Associates deployed a 120kVA 80-NET UPS system. The UPS system has been designed to provide 30 minutes of support at full load in case of a power failure.

"The system provides valuable uptime in case of a power failure, which allows staff 30 minutes to stabilise a patient should the mains fail," explains Mason. "The system has been designed so that the team wouldn't necessarily know that there has been a minor power disruption, as the 80-NET UPS ensures that the system keeps operating without fail."

Birmingham City Hospital is very familiar with Chloride's UPS products as it has previously deployed three units for various applications on the hospital grounds. All of the UPS systems, including the new 80-NET unit have been connected to Chloride's LIFE.net monitoring service to ensure that maintenance issues are detected at the earliest convenience.

"Chloride's UPS systems provide us with continuity and excellent levels of service," says SWBH NHS Trust Head of Estates, Rob Banks: "We are delighted to be working with two such dynamic organisations that have deployed a solution that provides us with continuous uptime and operation of vital equipment such as the Cardiac Catheter."

"Acute Trusts often have specific requirements for any technologies they deploy and SWBH NHS Trust is no exception," says Chloride's Technical Support Manager, Rob Tanzer. "The 80-NET UPS system has been designed to provide utmost resilience against power irregularities. We are delighted to be supporting such a vital piece of equipment at their busy hospitals ."

About Stewart Associates

Stewart Associates is a firm of consultant building services engineers, based in Dudley Port, Birmingham. It provides project management, mechanical and electrical design, transportation systems development and engineering consulting services to clients across healthcare, education, retail, leisure, banking, heritage and residential sectors.

Since 1993 Stewart Associates has delivered engineering solutions that provide operational cost efficiency, implementing services complementary to the building envelope whilst incorporating environmental considerations on all projects. Stewart Associates has up-to-date expertise in areas such as operational and life cycle cost efficiency, building services, environmental services, and green issues, guaranteeing high standards and optimum benefits for its client base.

About Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust

The Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the United Kingdom with a reputation for excellent, friendly staff who provide high quality care from three hospitals: City Hospital in Birmingham, Sandwell General Hospital in West Bromwich and Rowley Regis Community Hospital in Rowley Regis.

The Trust was established in April 2002 and has an income of £365 million. It employs almost 6400 WTE staff, has circa 1000 beds and serves a population of over 500,000. Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital are busy acute hospitals providing many specialist services and a broad range of emergency services, including Accident & Emergency at both sites. Rowley Regis Community Hospital provides rehabilitation and a wide range of outpatient and diagnostic services.

About Chloride

Chloride is one of Europe's leading suppliers of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and services. Established in 1891, Chloride offers a complete critical power solution - UPS systems, diesel generators, static switches, switchgear and associated ancillaries - all designed, installed, commissioned and maintained by Chloride to protect businesses from the damaging effects of sub-quality electrical power as well as power interruptions. Chloride delivers exceptional reliability through its people and technology and strives to exceed expectations by offering highly effective solutions. It provides all customers with superior after sales service and support; backed up by Chloride's industry leading 24/7 remote monitoring and diagnostics system, LIFE.net.

The company is committed to sustaining the environment and fostering energy recycling, and was the first company to sign up to the EU Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency and Quality of AC UPS, implementing a ‘zero waste' testing policy. Chloride is also a member of The Green Grid, a global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centres and business computing ecosystems.

With its main headquarters in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange, Chloride has offices worldwide, serving blue chip customers across Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America.

For more information visit: http://www.chloridepower.co.uk/

Editorial Contacts:

Interviews, photography and further information are available from Chloride's press office at MCC International.

MCC International

Tel: 01962 888 100

Email: chloridepr@mccint.com

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