Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH), the NHS foundation trust serving almost three million people, has modernised its video security infrastructure in partnership with Verkada to improve safety for patients, visitors and staff.
The hospital had been operating a legacy system that was expensive to run, difficult to update and no longer aligned with its operational needs. When Security Manager Brian Cowan began reviewing alternatives, he was looking for a platform that would simplify day-to-day management and provide clearer oversight across the estate. A trial of Verkada’s cloud-based system demonstrated its impact on patient safety and overall security, leading LHCH to roll it out across the full site.
Cowan said the move was “a revelation in terms of the simplicity, ease of deployment, and quality of the technology.” He added that LHCH “remains focused on protecting all users and our facilities 24/7,” and that Verkada has helped deliver a security provision that matches the hospital’s Care Quality Commission ‘Outstanding’ status.
The deployment uses Verkada’s hybrid-cloud architecture to improve visibility and streamline operations for the security team.
Deployment and management
With cameras connected to Verkada’s Command platform, the trust has been able to scale coverage quickly without the overheads associated with traditional systems. “Verkada scaled effortlessly and gave us immediate insight and coverage across our sites,” Cowan said.
Video is processed on the edge, providing AI-driven insights and instant access through a browser or mobile device. Footage can be viewed, archived or shared via secure links without relying on manual extraction or local storage.
The licensing model covers cameras and software only, with no add-on fees for updates, storage or user access. Automatic firmware updates and a 10-year warranty have removed the need for ongoing hardware maintenance or patching. UK-based support is included.
Patient privacy and access control
Administrators can easily manage who can view specific cameras, with encryption in place for stored and transmitted data. Face Blur settings support privacy requirements when footage is shared externally.
By moving to a modern, cloud-managed system, LHCH has reduced complexity while improving responsiveness and oversight – ensuring its physical security capabilities support both clinical operations and its wider duty of care.