NHS Devon ICB

NHS Devon covers a large rural geographical area, connecting 194 sites including 120 GP practices.

Connectivity investment focused on the upgrade of 27 sites to gigabit capable leased line connections integrating with a new software defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) with secondary or backup enabled through 4G mobile connectivity.

NHS Devon map

Challenge

Increasing demand for bandwidth as new clinical systems for example, electronic patient records and cloud-based services are introduced. Poor bandwidth causes frustration for administrative staff, limiting or slowing access to online training and practice cloud hosted financial systems.

PCN or wider MS Teams meetings, slow download of cloud hosted files creating inefficiency in how people work.

Solution

NHS Devon moves from a traditional hub and spoke private wide area network (WAN), using mostly FTTC and ADSL connections to a newly contracted SD-WAN using fibre to the premises (FTTP) wherever possible, to maximise gigabit capable connectivity.

This SD-WAN is being contracted and delivered through IT and infrastructure partners.

Benefits

Online GP consultations can be completed with confidence.

Digital first contact with GP surgeries is supported, improving triage processes, proving alternatives to a telephone call to the GP surgery.

General performance of access to care records is improved saving consultation time.

SD-WAN technology enables provisioning of connectivity to new sites easier and supports use of 4G cellular and satellite connectivity for backup and resilience.

Last edited: 9 July 2024 1:25 pm