GPS tracking cuts losses of BodyGuard T infusion pumps

RFiD Discovery has launched a GPS and Wi‑Fi tracking system for BodyGuard T infusion pumps, giving healthcare teams real-time visibility of devices used in hospitals and in community settings.

The system is designed to address a long-standing problem for NHS trusts, hospices and community services that lend infusion pumps to patients at home and then struggle to track them once they leave the hospital estate. Losses can leave wards short of equipment and increase costs when devices need replacing.

BodyGuard T, formerly known as T34, is widely used in palliative and end-of-life care and is often deployed across multiple settings, including patients' homes. Transfers from hospital to community can create gaps in oversight for clinical engineering teams and frontline staff who need pumps available for new patients.

Several NHS organisations have deployed the technology, including University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which reported eliminating syringe pump losses after rolling out the tracking system.

Losses and costs

At University Hospitals of North Midlands, the immediate driver was equipment loss after a new fleet of BodyGuard T syringe pumps was introduced. Within nine months, 40 pumps went missing, according to figures provided by the supplier. Each device cost about GBP £2,500 to replace. The missing equipment affected discharge processes and patients' choice about where to receive care.

Hospitals have increasingly shifted care into community settings in recent years, meaning more devices travel beyond hospital sites. Trusts therefore need processes that ensure equipment returns promptly and predictably, particularly when demand rises or patient flow is under strain.

How it works

The system combines a lockbox with a GPS tracking tag, providing location data on hospital sites and in the community. The lockbox works with manufacturer-supplied locking barrels and keys.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands, the GPS tracking system connects to an existing RFiD Discovery platform used across multiple sites. The trust uses that platform to track tens of thousands of medical devices using RFID.

Arron Duddin, General Manager at RFiD Discovery, said: "Pumps going missing once in the community is a persistent frustration for many hospitals. When devices can't be found, discharges are delayed and staff are put under unnecessary pressure. By providing clear, real-time visibility without changing how teams work, this solution helps protect vital equipment and support better care."

Operational impact

The system uses real-time mapping and automated alerts, flagging devices that remain in community settings beyond expected timeframes. Teams can then locate and recover pumps faster.

Adam Broadhurst, Specialist Medical Engineer at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, said: "Since implementing GPS tracking, we haven't lost a single BodyGuard T syringe pump. The system has transformed the service and completely stabilised our fleet."

The trust estimated it avoided more than GBP £100,000 in replacement costs and said the project paid for itself within weeks. It also recovered devices that staff had previously believed were permanently lost.

Equipment availability links directly to patient flow, particularly in services that rely on a small pool of specialist devices. University Hospitals of North Midlands said it reduced discharge delays linked to pump shortages and lowered the administrative burden on clinical engineering and nursing teams.

Wider platform

The GPS tracking tags are shock-resistant and waterproof to an IP68 rating. They use replaceable AAA batteries and, according to RFiD Discovery, can operate for up to 10 years on a battery.

The system includes geo-fencing alerts sent by text, email or phone. RFiD Discovery positions it as part of a broader tracking offering that includes RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi‑Fi-based technologies.

RFiD Discovery is owned by Paragon ID and has deployments in more than 200 hospitals in the UK, Europe and other markets, covering medical device tracking and related hospital workflow tools. It expects demand for location visibility to increase as care continues to shift into community settings.