Simplicity Incline Platform Lift - HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire​

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Long Lartin already had a platform lift for transporting patients and wheelchair users from the ground floor to the medical centre on the first and the offices on the second floor. Unfortunately it was very unreliable, causing difficulties arranging engineers as well as problems moving category A prisoners when the lift was out of use. 

Staircare was approached to quote for the replacement as our surveyor and engineers are CRB checked, the process started by meeting the wing governor and the head of maintenance and discussing what is needed from the lift and who would be using it, the Simplicity was the ideal choice, because the prisoners would not be allowed to operate it themselves, we chose to add a wander lead so that the operator could stay close to the lift rather than using the wall controls. By taking detailed measurements of the staircase we were able to produce a highly detailed drawing from which the quote could be produced. Having successfully won the contract the order was placed with the manufacturers and was ready in just 6 weeks. 

As the staircase was a high traffic area and engineers were not to come into contact with prisoners, all work had to be carried out during lock down between 6pm & 6am. The engineers removed the existing lift on the first night and installed the new simplicity over the following nights, we had estimated 4 nights but completed 1 night early, they then returned to site at 10am which was the quietest period in which to close the staircase to demonstrate the lift to the members of staff and maintenance team, and to hand over the simplicity lift to the prison.