Hospital Transforms Security with i-Pro Edge-Processing Camera System

i-Pro, formerly Panasonic Security, has enhanced the security infrastructure at a teaching hospital in north-east England with its X series cameras, integrated with Milestone’s XProtect video management software. The hospital is part of the National Health Service (NHS) Trust, and over the past decade has made significant advancements in its security infrastructure, transitioning from analog CCTV systems to a fully IP-based system. As part of this transformation, the hospital recently installed 25 i-Pro X-Series edge-processing cameras. The hospital's goal was to enhance the security of its large campus using the latest AI-enabled camera technology and also optimizing operations.

The main challenge the hospital faced was upgrading portions of its existing security system with state-of-the-art, AI-enabled cameras without exceeding strict public sector budget constraints and with minimal disruption to the daily operations of a busy hospital. With a vast campus and numerous security vulnerabilities, the hospital required a solution that could extend the capabilities of existing non-AI cameras while providing enhanced monitoring capabilities.

The hospital decided to install i-Pro X-Series edge-processing cameras that seamlessly integrate with Milestone’s VMS and enable the hospital to add AI functionality to their existing, non-AI cameras. They are equipped with the AI Processing Relay feature, which allows non-AI cameras, including those from other manufacturers, to gain AI capabilities. Such an approach maximizes the life of existing surveillance systems while significantly reducing false alarms. The hospital was able to enhance its video protection capabilities with new AI features across 100 cameras by installing 25 i-Pro X-Series AI cameras and linking them to their existing non-AI models. The hospital now benefits from AI-driven analytics that help security staff to manage crowd control, identify suspicious behavior, and even to integrate with their Paxton access control system. The cameras are connected to the hospital’s XProtect Smart Wall, where events triggered by AI analytics or access control events, such as a security breach or abnormal behavior, automatically display on screen.