RiTA Reaches a Worldwide Television Audience on NHS 247 TV

Industrial Technology Systems Ltd’s (ITS) utilities and energy monitoring system, RiTA, will be featured in a TV commercial throughout 2010.

The 60-second commercial, plus five minute interview with ITS’ Managing Director Malcolm Knott, will be screened on the UK’s popular healthcare channel, NHS 247 TV, which is part of the online portal NHS 247, dedicated to National Health Service frontline staff.

NHS 247 launched in July 2008 and provides NHS personnel with independent news, views and reviews, as well as a range of healthcare-specific interviews, documentaries and current affairs programmes.  The RiTA commercial and interview will be featured during the documentary series Solutions for a Sustainable Health Environment.

RiTA is capable of monitoring electricity, water, steam, air and gas usage, and is designed to help companies reduce consumption in a variety of industry sectors, including healthcare, medical device, pharmaceutical and manufacturing.

Energy efficiency is high on the agenda for NHS healthcare facilities tasked with meeting government mandatory energy targets, and ITS recognises the challenges facing a sector where 24-hour heating, lighting, ventilation, sterilisation, laundry and specialist medical equipment produce high energy and utility usage levels.

RiTA offers premises large and small the opportunity to make energy savings through accurate monitoring, recording and reporting.  By understanding the overall usage patterns, facilities are empowered to target areas for maximum benefit, monitor the effectiveness of energy reduction initiatives, and prove that the government’s targets are being achieved.

NHS 247 “free to air” digital television service is available to 22 million viewers throughout the UK in over nine million homes, on Sky channel 166, as well as the BBC/ITV Freesat Information TV channel 402. It is also accessible to the 50 million satellite viewing homes in Western Europe with a dish and receiver pointing to the Eurobird satellite, as well as millions of broadband users throughout the world who access the website and watch the channel via http://www.nhs247.com/.

NHS 247 TV is the only online channel dedicated to healthcare, attracting an estimated half million daily viewers with factual programming and relevant information.  It is the first independent on-line healthcare community designed by healthcare professionals exclusively for NHS personnel and their counterparts in the private sector, and is fully backed by the major political parties. 

Producer Michael Carrington said:  “I am particularly pleased to see the channel launched with contributions from the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Opposition Leader, David Cameron.  They have both recognised NHS 247 TV as a legitimate and independent channel in which to air their concerns over the NHS, providing increased viewing options to the hard working employees of the NHS.” 

Broadcasting on NHS 247 is a major coup for ITS, according to Managing Director Malcolm Knott.  “Reaching a worldwide audience in this way will maximise RiTA’s credibility in the healthcare sector,” he said. 

"The NHS is responsible for providing healthcare services and promoting good health. By reducing its energy consumption and CO2 by installing RiTA, it will improve the health and happiness of staff, patients and people worldwide. Any cost savings can be invested in patient care, so everyone benefits.”