Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust have installed our HME QuietCall Patient Paging Systems.

Mums and dads visiting The Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, can now go for a coffee or a walk in the park thanks to a new £4,500 set of ‘bleepers’ cutting waiting time frustration.

The pagers, funded by The Children’s Hospital Charity, are now in use in the Outpatient Department allowing parents to roam up to a mile away if clinics are late or an emergency happens.

The hospital is one of the first in the UK to begin using the state-of-the-art patient paging systems in a bid to help reduce the stress of waiting times.

The bleepers are handed out by reception staff and buzz five minutes before the family are needed for their appointment giving them time to get back.

Mum Samantha Hurman, who had brought daughter Alanna (seven) in for an appointment, was pleased to see the bleeper system in place. She said: “I was just reading about it, it looks like a good idea – when there’s a queue there can be a long wait!”

John Reid, director of nursing and clinical operations at Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The pagers are a great addition to our out-patient department and we’re delighted to be able to give parents the chance to free up some of their time.

“It’s important to us that families get a good balance between excellent medical care and providing a good overall experience at our hospital. Sometimes all mums and dads want is a short walk without the fear of missing their slot.

“We’re very grateful to the charity for funding these extra innovative pieces of equipment which really make a big difference to families.”

The bleepers were chosen for funding following a patient survey last year where families reported they did not realise they might have to wait and were not told.

David Vernon-Edwards, director of The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “These bleepers are an excellent idea. They really make a difference for families as it can be difficult entertaining a child in a small space if there is a wait.

“This way they can go to the cafe or into Western Park and feel their time is being better spent than just sitting on a corridor. We’re also looking to fund some more for other departments.”

More pagers are in the pipeline to go into other departments in the New Year including pharmacy, opthalmology, x-Ray and for parents whose children are being operated on allowing mums and dads to be there when they wake up.

Chris Hawkins Managing Director of Pager Call Systems commented “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Sheffield Childrens Hospital on this important project, our QuietCall IQ Patient Paging Systems are in use in a number of hospitals throughout the UK and we are confident that the patients and parents at Sheffield will appreciate the freedom that the system offers.  As a parent myself I understand how nice it is to have the opportunitity to move away from waiting areas in a hospital and relax with a coffee whilst waiting”.