For NHS laboratories and blood transfusion departments, temperature monitoring is critical, not just for compliance, but for patient safety.
At Wye Valley NHS Trust, the blood transfusion team relies on continuous environmental monitoring to oversee blood bank fridges, freezers, incubators, and walk-in cold storage areas.
We spoke with Sophie Protheroe, Blood Transfusion Section Manager at Wye Valley NHS Trust, about how JTF Wireless and the Sematics platform support day-to-day operations, improve visibility, and simplify UKAS inspections.
Supporting Critical Blood Bank Environments
Sophie oversees the trust’s blood transfusion laboratory services, including all temperature-monitored storage areas used for blood products.
Before moving to JTF Wireless, the trust used a previous monitoring system. While functional, it lacked many of the capabilities now available through Sematics.
Today, the trust uses the JTF Wireless platform to monitor:
For these environments, continuous monitoring is essential.
Without automated monitoring, laboratory teams would need to manually check refrigeration units throughout the day.
For blood bank environments specifically, this would mean manual temperature checks every two hours across multiple units.
Instead, the team now spends only a few minutes each morning reviewing the Sematics dashboard as part of their daily checklist.
According to Sophie:
“You can have a quick glance at the front page, it saves you time.”
The dashboard provides immediate visibility into alarm status, temperature ranges, and system performance, helping teams identify issues quickly without lengthy manual review processes.
For management teams, the reduction in administrative oversight is equally valuable. Sophie explained that without Sematics, significantly more time would be spent manually reviewing and signing off checks completed by laboratory staff.
One of the most important monitored areas within the department is the issue fridge used during active haemorrhage situations.
Because this fridge experiences frequent door openings during emergency use, temperatures can fluctuate rapidly.
Sematics allows the team to monitor these temperature spikes in real time, providing visibility they previously did not have.
The trust also benefits from multi-channel alerts delivered via both email and phone notifications, ensuring issues are identified quickly.
For healthcare environments where temperature deviations can directly impact product integrity, rapid response is essential.
Compliance is one of the biggest operational priorities for NHS laboratories.
At Wye Valley NHS Trust, the Sematics platform plays a central role during UKAS inspections.
Sophie explained that UKAS assessors review the system during every inspection:
“They always come and they always look at the Sematics system and they’re always happy with what we do.”
One of the key advantages is immediate access to historical data and audit records, without requiring manual preparation beforehand.
“Straight away I was able to get the data.”
The platform’s audit trail functionality also demonstrates that temperature data is actively reviewed and signed off, not simply recorded passively.
For deviations, the team uses built-in root cause and corrective action workflows within Sematics for smaller events, while larger incidents can be supplemented with additional documentation and equipment checks.
Beyond the technology itself, Sophie highlighted the working relationship with JTF Wireless as a key benefit.
She described response times as above industry average and praised the straightforward support process:
“Every time I’ve come to you I pretty much get a resolution from it.”
The trust particularly values:
Importantly, Sophie described JTF as more than just a supplier:
“You are looking to improve the system with us, trying to give us ways to improve it.”
This collaborative approach is especially important in critical healthcare environments where monitoring systems must evolve alongside operational requirements.
Another feature highlighted during the interview was the ability to manage calibration reports digitally within Sematics.
Instead of printing paperwork and maintaining physical folders, calibration certificates can be stored and signed off directly within the platform.
According to Sophie:
“I really like that feature. Because then I don’t have to print stuff off and put it into folders.”
This helps simplify compliance processes while improving document accessibility and audit readiness.
When asked whether she would recommend JTF Wireless to other trusts, Sophie’s answer was immediate: she already has.
Her summary of the system:
“It’s a good solution, it looks after itself. It’s easy to find all the information you need so that you can get through all your UKAS inspections.”
And when asked what she would say to encourage another trust to pick up the phone?
“It will help you get through your UKAS inspection.”
JTF Wireless helps healthcare organisations improve visibility, reduce manual workload, and strengthen compliance through:
From blood banks and laboratories to pharmacies and healthcare storage facilities, JTF Wireless supports safer, smarter environmental monitoring across the NHS and wider healthcare sector.
Interested in improving compliance and visibility across your healthcare environment?
Explore how JTF Wireless supports NHS trusts and healthcare providers with real-time temperature monitoring and audit-ready reporting.
