Understanding Phototherapy Part 2

UNDERSTANDING PHOTOTHERAPY: Q&A WITH STEPHEN PART 2

In Part 2 of our Q&A with Stephen our SCOTT Medical director, we get into the day-to-day realities of maintaining phototherapy cabins, what clinics typically ask, and some behind-the-scenes stories from years on the road installing Daavlin devices across the UK and Ireland.

Q: What type of departments typically use phototherapy?

Stephen: Usually dermatology or dedicated phototherapy units in hospitals. Some outpatient or physio departments have them too—physiotherapists used to provide UV treatments historically. We also serve private dermatologists and some patients with home-use devices.

Q: What questions do you get from clinics?

Stephen: Not much, unless there's a problem! These devices just quietly get on with the job.

Q: How often should a Daavlin cabin be serviced?

Stephen: Once a year, or every 100 hours of treatment—whichever comes first. Most busy dermatology departments hit about 75 hours annually.

Q: What are signs a cabin needs servicing or upgrading?

Stephen: Aging lamps lead to longer treatment times or failures. The controllers can start to go, and parts for older models become hard to find. We often catch minor issues during routine servicing before they become bigger problems.

On the Road with Stephen

Q: You must travel a lot—what’s the furthest you've gone for an install?

Stephen: I’ve been everywhere—from Cork to Derry to the Shetlands. I even went to Gibraltar once for a service!

Q: How many Daavlin cabins do you currently maintain?

Stephen: Around 125 Daavlin cabins, plus another 90 devices from Daavlin.

Advice and Insights for Clinics

Q: What would you say to a clinic considering a Daavlin UV cabin?

Stephen: I'd walk them through the benefits—especially the cost efficiency and technology. I'd also refer them to existing customers so they can ask directly about us and our track record.

Q: Is it better to upgrade an old device or maintain it?

Stephen: Upgrading makes more sense in most cases. New cabins are more energy-efficient and faster. Just replacing the lamps on an old device can be costly—which can be a big chunk of a new system.

Q: What's the most common question clinics ask you?

Stephen: Usually operational stuff like “How do I add a new user to the PC?” We don’t give clinical advice.

Q: What could go wrong if a cabin isn’t serviced regularly?

Stephen: You risk under or overtreating patients, which can be dangerous. The biggest concern is burns (Erythema) due to sensor failures or incorrect UV dosing.

Q: Any tips for keeping a cabin in top condition between services?

Stephen: Keep it clean, check the lamps regularly. Daavlin devices are low-maintenance and do a lot of self-testing automatically.

Final Thoughts and Favourite Stories

Q: Any install moment that really stands out?

Stephen: One time, we had to get two cabins delivered by March year-end—shipped direct from the U.S. The hospital hadn’t been built yet, so we stored the devices for 10 months. After installation, a pipe burst and flooded both cabins and PCs—before they were ever used! They’ve worked fine ever since.

Q: If you could install a cabin anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Stephen: Lisburn—so I could go home for tea! I do about 50,000 miles a year and stay in endless hotels. The novelty now would be staying home.

Want to learn more about Daavlin? Get in touch with the SCOTT Medical team today.