Hi-tech hospital to use 'courier robots'

Source: Healthcare digital

Date :27/06/2007 11:14:39

A fleet of robots is to be used in a new hospital being built at Larbert in Stirlingshire.

While ‘courier robots’ are used in hospitals in the US, and hospitals in France and Japan also use similar systems, the hospital will be the first in the UK to use robots

to transport goods and equipment.

The robots will run along a separate network of corridors from patients and will use magnetic strips or infra red to find their way around.

The technology is similar to that already used in the manufacturing industry.

Hospital porters will still be needed to transport patients, while the robots free them from transporting linen, waste and medical equipment.

The £300 million PPP funded hospital at Larbert will replace Falkirk and Stirling Royal Infirmaries to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the whole Forth Valley.

Work is expected to be completed by December 2009.

June 27 2007