Future Connectivity wireless trialist case studies

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.

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.

As part of the 23/24 wireless trial intake, NHS England have been working in collaboration with Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to support upgrading their Electrocardiograph (ECG) Devices and to automate integration with the existing Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system. This digitises the entire system of requesting ECG tests.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first foundation trusts in England, providing healthcare services to a population of approximately 343,000 in the Chester and West Cheshire areas. Their trial aims to explore how medical diagnostic devices can be used to update patient records and inform specialists automatically as tests are undertaken. 

As part of the 23/24 Wireless Trials intake, NHS England have been working in collaboration with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust to explore the use of bespoke satellite connectivity to provide internet access to community hubs, allowing for the formation of pop-up medical sites.

The trust operates 10 hospitals in the Greater Manchester area, and is the largest foundation trust in England, employing over 280,000 staff. Their trial recognises that providing care to such a large community requires agile connectivity solutions that support clinical service delivery. If successful, this solution will enable the trust to both provide connectivity to remote locations and the resilience to continue providing care when unexpected connectivity issues arise.

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) provides emergency medical services and transport across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire.

In collaboration with NHS England since December 2023, EEAST has trialled a connectivity solution to improve ambulance handovers at four hospitals where mobile coverage is insufficient. 

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.

Aimed at reducing missed appointments (DNAs) and improving patient experience, the pilot uses Patient Wi-Fi infrastructure and MazeMap technology to provide real-time navigation. Patients can access personalized routes via QR codes, mobile devices, or kiosks, enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for diverse communities.

With the potential to save up to £672,000 annually and ease staff workloads, this trial showcases how technology can address navigation barriers, improve efficiency, and reduce healthcare inequalities across NHS trusts.

This trial collaboration with NHS England started August 2024 and it is due to conclude early February 2025, when the organisation will reflect on opportunities for scaling up the achievements made.

BSW ICB are exploring the use of a Starlink satellite solution to provide backup connectivity when primary connections fail at their GP sites. This will allow for rapid deployment of seamless access to clinical applications during power or network outages, or when setting up a new or a temporary location.

The trial has proved successful, with the following benefits: 

• provision of an easy to set up reliable internet backup for GP surgeries and small sites
• ability to set up temporary, connected health hubs at short notice

Partnering with NHS England’s Future Connectivity programme, the trial uses portable routers with multi-SIM technology to provide fast, secure internet access in areas with poor network coverage. This ensures seamless access to patient data, improving patient care, supporting safeguarding efforts, and enhancing clinical efficiency.

By addressing digital poverty challenges, the initiative enhances care quality, saves time, and improves staff morale. With plans to roll out 44 devices, it offers a blueprint for nationwide adoption.