Partnered Content

29.04.20

Cel-Fi products improve mobile signal coverage in NHS properties

Words provided by Frequency Telecom, editorially reviewed by National Health Executive

The universal problem of poor mobile signal has far reaching implications for individuals and organisations across the UK. But, for an institution like the NHS, it could have dire consequences.

In April 2020, the NHS entered a digital transformation era as it aims to harness the power of information technology to improve health and social care services. NHS trusts are adopting a ‘mobile first’ strategy, providing smartphones and tablets to medical practitioners to be able to access and respond to patient information more quickly and easily.

Digital connectivity in hospitals and healthcare practices is paramount to this strategy.

The NHS has embraced digital connectivity within hospitals that enable people to stay in touch at crucial times; whether that is a patient keeping in touch with their family, a nurse’s ability to view a patient’s case file on a device or enabling the quick transfer of information from doctor’s practice to specialist.

With the phasing out of DECT phones and pagers well underway, increasingly the healthcare service is becoming dependent on mobile devices to deliver in-hospital and staff communications. Mobile phones are key devices in A&E control rooms and good, reliable mobile phone coverage is regarded as critical infrastructure, needed to support A&E response teams.

iStock-543355476

Digital connectivity in hospitals and healthcare practices is paramount to the smooth and successful operation of key hospital functions, including the likes of A&E departments.
 

A hindrance to good quality mobile signal in hospitals is often as a result of the building materials used during construction. Often, these materials significantly impact or completely block mobile signal penetrating through, leading to unreliable mobile signals inside. Similarly, the size of some hospital buildings further exasperates these issues.

Whilst the NHS has rolled out an extensive Wi-Fi solution in more than 95% of all practices and properties, it has failed to solve the problem of poor mobile reception. Wi-Fi calling, where adopted, has been widely criticised as unreliable, and dropped calls or poor call quality when using mobile devices can have a significant impact in a hospital environment.

Some NHS trusts with poor mobile reception have contacted the MNO’s to provide them with a solution but have found that the costs and timelines put forward to be a prohibiting factor to implement the alternative solutions.

Many NHS trusts have turned to Cel-Fi and Frequency Telecom to provide them with an indoor mobile coverage solution. Cel-Fi’s range of products are cost effective, legal and resolve the mobile signal issues within the timelines and to the scale required by customers.

Cel-Fi is the only OFCOM licence exempt solution available for addressing poor mobile signal coverage in the UK and Ireland. The products are designed to improve mobile signal strength for 3G and 4G and provide an exceptional coverage footprint. Cel-Fi products are mobile network approved and fully meets the regulatory requirements in the UK and Ireland.

For more information around the products and solutions they may be able to offer you, Cel-Fi can be contacted on +44 (0)330 353 0197 or you can view their range of products here.

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest healthcare news

Organ Donation Week: Having the conversation

11/09/2020Organ Donation Week: Having the conversation

As part of Organ Donation Week, NHE’s Matt Roberts spoke with our Managing Director Roy Rowlands about the importance of raising aware... more >
Grant funding awarded for unique Nurse Innovation Fellow position

11/09/2020Grant funding awarded for unique Nurse Innovation Fellow position

Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded a grant from the Burdett Trust for Nursing to fund a unique Nursing Innovation Fell... more >
National trial to investigative best treatment for childhood asthma

11/09/2020National trial to investigative best treatment for childhood asthma

An innovative new £1.5m national clinical trial looking at finding the best treatment for childhood asthma has been funded by NIHR. Le... more >
New agreement reached to benefit NHS junior doctors

10/09/2020New agreement reached to benefit NHS junior doctors

Junior doctors in the NHS will now also be able to undertake their training in independent hospitals after a new agreement was reached between in... more >

interviews

Organ Donation Week: Having the conversation

11/09/2020Organ Donation Week: Having the conversation

As part of Organ Donation Week, NHE’s Matt Roberts spoke with our Managing Director Roy Rowlands about the importance of raising aware... more >
Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual conference, Matt Hancock highlighted what he believes to be the three... more >
NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

17/09/2019NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

Over 20 years ago, a Teesside hospital cleaner put down her mop and took steps towards her midwifery dreams. Lisa Payne has been delivering ... more >
How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

24/10/2018How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

A dedicated national social care service could be a potential solution to surging demand burdening acute health providers over the winter months,... more >
RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

24/10/2018RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has told NHE that the college’s new headquarters based in Liverpool will become a hu... more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us th... more > more last word articles >

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental health and wellbeing. As the best rugby players in the world repr... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Being on the receiving end of some “thanks” can make communit... more >
Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

13/06/2019Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

Nurses have been named as the most under-appreciated public sector professionals as new research reveals how shockingly under-vauled our NHS, edu... more >
Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

10/06/2019Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

Peter Skitt, county director and commissioner for Ceredigion Hywel Dda University Health Board, looks ahead to the new integrated care centre bei... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Organ Donation Week: Having the conversation

11/09/2020Organ Donation Week: Having the conversation

As part of Organ Donation Week, NHE’s Matt Roberts spoke with our Managing Director Roy Rowlands about the importance of raising awareness for the subject and having these conversations; as families, organisations and individuals. We don’t often like to think about the end, but as Organ Donation Week – which has run... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >