Future-proofing Bishop Auckland Hospital – Em-B Solutions has worked with facilities management provider ISS Mediclean to upgrade the access control system at Bishop Auckland Hospital, part of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. The project involved replacing an ageing access control system with a stand-alone Salto access control solution to eventually link the hospital’s system with nearby Darlington Memorial Hospital.
Bishop Auckland Hospital is part of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, serving a large local population with outpatient and community services. Like many NHS facilities, the hospital must balance the need for open access for patients with security, safety, and safeguarding requirements.
The hospital was struggling with an outdated access control system, limited product availability, and obsolete infrastructure. The system’s reliability was a growing concern, so the hospital tasked ISS Mediclean with installing a future-proof solution that could provide secure access today and facilitate integration with other Trust sites in the future.
Working closely with ISS Mediclean, Em-B Solutions delivered a comprehensive upgrade to approximately thirty doors featuring a stand-alone Salto access control system. The new system features Salto proximity wall readers for flexible and secure access management for staff. In areas where higher security or remote access control was required, such as sensitive wards, Em-B also installed video intercom systems, allowing staff to verify and approve entry in real time, providing a sense of reassurance and control.
The Salto system brings together the hospital’s physical security requirements into a single, integrated platform that is robust, scalable, and easier to manage for the hospital’s facilities team. It also allows for future expansion, with plans to link Bishop Auckland Hospital with Darlington Memorial Hospital, so that staff will be able to use a single credential across both sites. Em-B continues to work closely with ISS Mediclean on a day-to-day basis, offering support, practical advice, and responsive service across the site.
Em-B Solutions is an architectural ironmonger and access control specialist, providing tailored solutions for healthcare, education, commercial, and public sector buildings. With decades of experience, Em-B works closely with facilities managers, contractors, and end-users to deliver hardware and electronic access systems that balance security, usability, and compliance. From door scheduling to system design and installation, Em-B offers end-to-end support for projects of all sizes.
