How Kinetic-Power Got Carts Back on the Wards at Barnsley Hospital

The Challenge: Short Battery Life, High Costs, and Disrupted Care

In 2020/21 Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust invested in a new fleet of mobile carts. However, it soon became clear that the rechargeable batteries supplied with the carts were not fit for long-term use. The issues were significant:

• The batteries came with only a 12-month guarantee
• Replacement batteries were expensive and came with the same limited warranty
• To keep the carts operational over a five-year period, the Trust needed to purchase three to four sets of replacement batteries

As batteries failed, carts were frequently taken off the wards without warning. This caused disruption to clinical workflows and had a direct impact on patient care. Meanwhile, the cost of repeated battery replacements diverted funding away from frontline services.

The Trust needed a solution that would:

• Deliver reliable, long-lasting power
• Come with a meaningful warranty
• Be able to fit onto their existing fleet of carts.

The Solution: Retrofitting with Kinetic-Power

That’s when they discovered Kinetic-Power – Kinetic-ID’s battery solution that’s designed specifically for demanding healthcare environments.

Kinetic-Power batteries offer several key advantages:

• Ultra-efficient performance: Kinetic-Power batteries typically provide up to twice the run time per Wh compared to traditional powered workstations, based on typical use.
• Medical-grade certification: The Kinetic-ID electronics system is EN60601 certified, meaning it is fully approved for use in near-patient environments and will not interfere with medical equipment.
• Extended lifespan: Designed for long-term use, Kinetic-Power batteries continue to perform reliably into year five and beyond, dramatically reducing replacement cycles.
• Rapid battery swapping: The innovative Kinetic-ID design allows batteries to be swapped or replaced in under a minute, ensuring carts stay in use and downtime is kept to a minimum.

Most importantly for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Kinetic-Power could be retrofitted to their existing fleet, avoiding the need for costly new carts.

A Simple Retrofit with Long-Term Benefits

Jim Shaw, Head of Digital Support at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, explains:

“The retrofit battery Kinetic-ID supply is easy for us to fit, as well as being designed to look like part of the original cart.”

Even more crucially, the retrofit power solution came with a five-year guarantee, immediately reducing long-term costs and giving the Trust confidence in the future reliability of their fleet.

“The move to Kinetic-Power has not only saved the Trust money but has given us peace of mind into the future.”

Proven Reliability and a New Way of Thinking

Since switching to Kinetic-Power, the results have been clear:

• Failed carts are quickly returned to service
• Zero battery failures over three years
• Battery performance backed up by reliable usage data

This experience has changed how the Trust evaluates technology investments. 

“It highlighted that the way a cart is powered is just as important as how it looks,” Jim explains. “We now look at the ‘life cost’ of any purchase. Further costs can soon mount up, and the expense of keeping something operational needs to be factored in from the start.”

The Outcome: Confidence Restored and Costs Reduced

Thanks to the success of Kinetic-Power, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has not only stabilised its existing fleet but has gone on to purchase new carts, COWs and WOWs from Kinetic-ID.

By focusing on long-term performance, medical-grade safety and total cost of ownership, Kinetic-Power has helped the Trust protect patient care, reduce unnecessary spend and regain confidence in its mobile technology – proving that the right power solution really can make a difference.

‍