Portable, retractable X-ray shielding for high traffic ward environments

KwickScreen believes that every nurse and every patient has the right to be confident in their safety in a hospital. We want patients to feel confident that they are entering a hygienic, safe space where their welfare is the top priority. We want nurses to have equipment that can make their lives easier so they can focus on patients.

KwickScreen is a world-leading supplier of protective screen-based solutions to create a safer space for each patient. KwickScreen currently offers a switchable-opacity smartscreen, mobile units (Pro/Duo), wall-mounted units with high degrees of flexibility (Air) and versatility (Kin), and a static fire-retardant polycarbonate shield. Over 12 years, KwickScreen has sold \>15,000 units; KwickScreen's current customers include every NHS trust in the UK, 200 US hospitals and an ever-growing number of hospitals in 40 other countries (representing \>500 hospitals total). During 2020, KwickScreen proved its ability to respond quickly to the demands of COVID and of its customers. KwickScreen vastly increased its production capacity and tripled its revenue from £2.1m to £7.5m, introducing three new products and building world-leading expertise in low-temperature printing on thin films. KwickScreen has reinvested profits into the company to ensure competitiveness and has just doubled its manufacturing space by moving to a new, larger factory Lewisham.

KwickScreen already has infection control screens in radiology departments in numerous NHS trusts, including UCLH, Alder Hey, and Dartford&Gravesham. Supplementing the infection control screens are mobile lead X-ray shields. Current solutions are robust but rigid, which means they cannot easily be stored when not in use. These departments indicate strong interest in retractable, mobile X-ray shields that can quickly and easily be deployed in high traffic ward environments and operating theaters.

KwickScreen will develop an innovative, retractable/rollable X-ray shielding screen for use in busy ward environments, where X-rays must be taken quickly. Patients cannot be moved efficiently to X-ray rooms, so portable X-ray machines are used. Patients must be shielded from the X-rays, so moveable partition screens are used. Existing screens are unwieldy but highly robust. KwickScreen aims to replicate the robustness of these screens while making them retractable and more portable.

Retractable/rollable X-ray shielding screens offer substantial long-term benefits to both nurses and patients. The proposed solution will improve the ability of doctors and nurses to treat patients (by more quickly taking X-ray images) in busy ward environments. Patients will benefit from speedier triage, without having to be moved as frequently.