Courtney Thorne
Nurse Call Systems.
Their lives in safer hands.

Nurse Call System FAQs

• What are Nurse Call Systems?

  The concept of a nurse call system revolves around enabling patients to communicate their need for assistance to nurses. Healthcare facilities are typically required to have nurse call systems with specific functionalities. These may include door lights that indicate when a patient requires assistance. Additionally, facilities commonly provide patients with various tools and accessoried, such as alarms, pillow speakers, nurse call buttons on the walls, and pull cords in patient rooms and restrooms. These features allow patients to request help from monitoring nurses promptly when needed, such as in the event of a fall.

  Nurse call systems have become integral life safety solutions for various types of hospitals and care home facilities. An effective call bell system will ensure that patients can receive timely assistance and contribute to the overall well-being and safety of individuals under medical care.

• What are the benefits of Courtney Thorne nurse call systems

  Nurse call systems are often required in healthcare facilities due to the numerous benefits they provide. These systems play a crucial role in enhancing patient safety and satisfaction.

  Patient Safety

  Nurse call systems are instrumental in improving patient safety; by enabling swift communication between patients and nursing staff. For instance, in the event of a fall, a patient can quickly alert the staff through the nurse call system, with our alarms ensuring timely assistance and responses. Similarly, if a patient’s condition deteriorates suddenly, they can promptly notify a nurse for immediate evaluation and intervention. Without an accessible means of communication, patients may find themselves in unsafe situations, with delays in receiving the necessary care. Call bell solutions effectively bridge this gap, allowing patients to receive the assistance they need without unnecessary delays.

  Patient Satisfaction

  Effective nurse call systems also enhance patient satisfaction, which can significantly impact healthcare facilities. Several factors can lead to patient dissatisfaction, with waiting times and poor communication ranking high on the list. Nurse call systems address these concerns by providing smart mechanisms to improve communication and reduce wait times. When a patient uses the nurse call system, nurses are promptly informed of their needs, minimising the time the patient has to wait for assistance. Additionally, nurse call systems equipped with two-way communication capabilities between patients and nurses can help keep patients informed and engaged in their care, as well providing help for nurses monitoring their patients.

• Are Courtney Thorne nurse call systems approved?

  All Courtney Thorne nurse call systems and solutions are approved by the UK’s leading healthcare industry regulators. Our nurse call systems safely conform to ISO9001 and CE standards. In addition, our Altra Health and Connect Health nurse call bell products are fully compliant with HTM 08-03 regulations for Bedhead services.

  We are also associated with and proud members of esteemed healthcare and manufacturing organisations such as Constructionline, CHAS, the British Standards Institution, and the National Care Association Suppliers Forum. You can rest assured that every nurse call system we provide adheres to the highest industry standards for healthcare, meaning you can provide your patients with the high-quality care they need with peace of mind.

• Does Courtney Thorne offer customisable call bells?

  All of our nurse call bell solutions for hospitals and care homes can be built to the bespoke needs of your facility. By viewing our Accessories, you can see the full potential of what our call bell systems can offer, and how they can be expertly adapted to plug any gaps in the capabilities of your resources. From different styles of button and display units, to paging systems, and triggers – your call bell solution can be built bespoke to order. For more information on how call bell buttons can differ from system to system, you can read our blog on the different types of call bell buttons.

• Does Courtney Thorne offer training for healthcare providers?

  If your healthcare organisation requires staff training with the purchase of any one of our nurse call bell system products, we can offer complete training courses and user guides that cover all aspects of the nurse call system and how to use them effectively. In addition to this, we can also offer you a full library of free training and how-to videos, with which you can learn all the basics of how to program all of our nurse call systems and related products. For more information on how to book a training course, you can talk to us here.

• Can I get a nurse call system if I’m overseas?

  Through the Courtney Thorne partner programme, under our C-T International branch, any overseas organisation can become a trade partner of ours, and gain full access to our nurse call systems and product range. We have trade representation all across the globe, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia – and as members of the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering, we can assure you that all of our nurse call system products will conform to most overseas regulations. To find out more information on how you can become an overseas trade partner, contact us using our online form.

• Are Courtney Thorne nurse call systems covered by a warranty?

  Yes, our Altra nurse call systems come with a three-year warranty, while all the other products in our range come with a one-year warranty. These warranties cover all of the manufactured nurse call parts that we have produced, while any elements of the provided nurse call bell system that were not manufactured by us (such as beds, chairs, and floor mats) are not covered. We can also offer one of our further nurse call annual service contracts once your initial warranty expires. These contracts come in different levels and can be built bespoke for the exact needs of your nurse call system and your organisation. Follow this link to learn more about our service contracts.

• What is a nurse call?

  A nurse call refers to the action of a patient or resident within a healthcare organisation, such as a hospital or a care home, to request assistance or additional care from their nurse or caregiver. The concept of a nurse call has been around for many years, with Florence Nightingale often cited as the originator of this idea – utilising more literal bell systems in hospital wards that would allow patients to get the attention of their nurses when needed. In the modern day, nurse call systems (like our own at Courtney Thorne) are ubiquitous in hospitals and care homes, utilising wired, wireless, and smart technology to achieve this very same function.

• Does Courtney Thorne have an app?

  We at Courtney Thorne have recently launched our brand new app for Smartphones and Android devices, known as Altra Go. The Altra Go app can be used in tandem with any of the nurse call bell systems in our Altra product range in order to more easily access and assess the data you need to provide better quality care. The Altra Go app is fully integrated and easy to use, with an intuitive design that allows for on-the-go access to all reports, call logs, and care overviews. For more information, you can visit the Altra Go page here.

• Can Courtney Thorne help protect staff?

  Yes, Courtney Thorne can help protect your staff through our dedicated Staff Attack Solution, which is specifically designed to enhance safety in healthcare environments where the risk of aggression or violence is present, such as mental health units, dementia care, or high-dependency wards. The call bell solution provides staff with discreet, wearable personal attack alarms that can be activated instantly in threatening situations.

  Once triggered, the call bell system uses real-time location tracking to pinpoint the staff member’s exact position, allowing colleagues or security teams to respond swiftly and effectively. Silent alarm functionality means help can be summoned without escalating situations further. Seamless integration with existing call bell solutions means minimal disruption and consistent, facility-wide coverage. Additionally, incident reporting and audit trail capabilities support incident analysis, enabling you to identify patterns, improve protocols, and demonstrate a proactive commitment to staff safety.