Future Connectivity wireless trialist spotlights

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is investigating RTLS to track beds within the hospital. This will improve patient flow and wayfinding through the healthcare system by automatically updating patient records based on location, by reducing time to update records manually, reducing time to find equipment, and prepares for a new EPR system.

The trial specifically looks at different tagging technologies to create a proof-of-concept RTLS system, investigating passive and active tags.

Significant time and effort is put into paperwork by frontline staff, which The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust is looking to minimise by integrating modern ECG devices with their Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system. This will allow for secure data transfer between the local ECG system and the EPR system across all areas of the trust.

By connecting these systems, data accuracy is significantly improved while also freeing up clinical time to focus on patient care with the aim of improving patient experience and outcomes.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is looking to combine satellite connectivity with cloud-based Wi-Fi. These off-the-shelf products, when combined, could allow for rapid and secure deployment of connectivity in areas where connectivity is lacking. Both a business grade solution for high-traffic areas, and a community solution for individual users, are being trialled.

This will reduce the risk of connectivity dropouts while maintaining secure access to patient data in areas that need it, such as a mobile vaccination centre.

The East of England Ambulance Service is aiming to create shared connection areas inside A&E departments, in ambulance bays, and in ambulance queueing areas. Due to the built-up nature of some acute sites, this has not been possible in the past.

Utilising network repeaters within the ambulance bays can provide these connections, and therefore improve patient safety through more efficient patient handovers from ambulance to hospital staff while supporting accurate transfer of information.

The North West Ambulance Service is looking to expand an innovative Li-Fi and IoT solution to improve ambulance connectivity across more sites. Li-Fi is an emerging technology that can transmit information wirelessly with light.

Combined with IoT devices, this can allow for both improved connectivity within an ambulance and the automation of various tasks. This frees up staff time to focus on their core clinical role, enabling better patient care.

The University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust run a mobile “Find and Treat” service that offers front-line screening services for various diseases. Services such as chest x-ray screening and practical guidance are provided on the “Find and Treat” vehicles, which rely on wireless connectivity.

Exploring multiple connectivity options through the Trial has resulted in real time remote diagnosis being possible for screened patients, through inherently scalable methods that align with the NHS Long Term Plan.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust prototyped a Private 5G network to become the first 5G connected hospital in the UK. This enabled new ways of working, such as laying foundations for mobile observation applications, IoT sensing technologies freeing clinical staff from routine maintenance tasks, and a reduction in emissions through reducing staff commutes.

This capability also lays foundations for future front-line digitalisation efforts.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has recently completed construction of a state of the art A&E department, and included upgrading their site wireless connectivity infrastructure to Wi-Fi 6 which maximises coverage to enable new digital healthcare technologies.

For frontline workers, this means more time providing compassionate care rather than managing paperwork.

Benefits realisation is ongoing, with clinical and infrastructure teams undergoing training that will provide significant cost savings while supporting a more robust hospital

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has embarked on a Community Bed Optimisation project. This involved Sussex carrying out the Wi-Fi connectivity survey themselves to determine areas of poor connectivity, which aims to reduce costs by upskilling staff to complete further surveys.

Identifying problem areas for connectivity allows for an appropriate upgrade to be designed and implemented, which ultimately improves both patient care and patient experience.

This survey can cater for both different device types and different building types, a known challenge in community care. These upgrades inform ward design, including optimising bed locations so that staff have appropriate connectivity to provide bedside care.

Mid Cheshire NHS Trust have been working with their medical engineering department by introducing a Real Time Location Service (RTLS) system. Expensive medical assets will be tracked around the treatment centre and theatres.

The trial in the case study served as a pilot to test the system for infusion pumps before assessing suitability for rolling out across the region. The system is intended to replace the labour-intensive manual audit process, while also improving efficiency of medical staff and most importantly improving patient safety by facilitating access to maintained equipment.