A radar-based system called VisionRF can now detect a person's breathing and heart rate through walls using safe, low-power radio signals, and researchers are adapting it to monitor prisoners for signs of suicide attempts or overdoses without any physical contact. This matters because self-inflicted deaths in UK prisons rose by 24% in 2023, costing taxpayers £300 million, and current prevention relies on manual checks that are labour-intensive, distressing for prisoners, and often too slow to prevent emergencies. Prisoners face severe health inequalities—higher rates of chronic illness, untreated mental health conditions, and suicide—yet healthcare access is limited and reactive. VisionRF offers a privacy-respecting, 24/7 alternative to cameras, wearables, or ECGs, which are impractical or prohibited in secure settings. If successful, the system could reduce preventable deaths, cut the distress of being woken for checks, and free prison staff time for proactive care. The project will refine the device through co-creation with NHS, prison staff, and people with lived experience, then prepare a spinout for commercial deployment.
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Research Question Can we deliver a reliable, contactless, and unobtrusive vital sign monitoring system to address health emergencies in prisons such as suicide attempts and overdoses, and reduce preventable deaths thereby address one of UK’s most severe health inequality challenges? Background People in prison experience large health inequalities, with higher rates of chronic illness (diabetes, hypertension, HIV, cancer), untreated mental health conditions (PTSD, depression), and suicides [2]. In 2023, self-inflicted deaths in prisons increased by 24% compared to 2022 [3,4]), costing £300 million to taxpayers [5,6]. Healthcare in prisons is NHS responsibility, yet access is limited and reactive. Overdoses and suicide attempts require urgent intervention, yet current prevention relies on laborious, distressing, and often insufficient manual checks. At Heriot-Watt University we have created VisionRF: a radar-based system that can detect a person's breathing rate BR, heart rate HR, and more [7], from a distance and with unprecedented accuracy (enabled by our IP [1]), using safe low-power radio signals. Validated as a proof of concept (TRL 3), VisionRF offers a contactless, privacy-respecting, 24/7 health monitor (particularly useful at night), alternative to ECGs, ultrasound, wearables, and cameras that are impractical or prohibited in secure spaces. Aims and Objectives We aim to reduce health inequalities in prisons and prevent suicides, overdoses and deaths from other severe health events. Objectives to achieve this aim: 1. Integrate the VisionRF device with incorporated IP, refine it through co-creation, achieve TRL 5 2. Build entrepreneurial capabilities in the PI to accelerate commercialisation 3. Conduct market research, secure the IP, and prepare spinout strategy Methods The project will be delivered across 3 work packages (WPs): • WP1: Develop MVP, user-driven refinement • WP2: PI Training, market research, stakeholder validation, regulatory planning • WP3: Project management Timelines for Delivery • D1 (Month 7): MVP device prototype with user-informed specifications • D2 (Month 9): Finalized path to spinout (business plan, regulatory roadmap) Knowledge Mobilisation, Dissemination and Impact We will provide: •Two Demo and Co-Creation Days with NHS NPCN, POA, SPS, and people with lived experience •Public articles co-authored with stakeholders •Post-project engagement in Immersive Suite to showcase impact and collect data •Impact on prisoners: - Reduced risk of death (self-inflicted or not) - Reduced wakeup distress - Enhanced sense of safety at night when risk is higher Assessed by: - Qualitative LEP panel feedback (Families Outside) - Volunteer survey in simulated cell Metrics: - Perceived stress changes, monitoring anxiety, user comfort/intrusiveness •Impact on prison staff - Reduced burden avoiding safer cell rounds/confrontations - Faster clinical response to irregular vitals - Free-up staff time for proactive care Assessed by: Feedback from prison GPs, healthcare staff, officers (NPCN, POA, SPS) via: - Immersive Suite demo - Pre- and post- engagement feedback form Metrics: - Time saved per staff shift, perceived alert usefulness Research Inclusion •Through the LEP Panel and Advisory Group •Design for vulnerable, non-tech savvy users: one-button device; plain and secure app (already made in Flutter) •Device is unobtrusive, transparent to the user, and requires no physical interaction.
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