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Wifi upgrade at Royal Stoke UniversityHospital24/12/2014

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has teamed up with communicationsspecialists KCom to upgrade the wireless network service across the Royal Stoke UniversityHospital site. The hospital, which opened in 2012, has wireless capability throughout the buildings andis now expanding the network to meet the revised demands of clinicians. The Trust also plans to offerpatients and visitors the chance to join the wireless network for the first time next year.

Mark Bostock, Director of Information Management and Technology (IM&T), said: "The Trust isabsolutely committed to giving clinicians access to a range of technologies that will support the care theyprovide. This development means that our Wi-Fi design capability should keep pace with the latestavailable Wi-Fi connectivity standard. The upgrade has seen the number of access points increased tomore than 1000, meaning that coverage is greater, eradicating 'black spots' and our clinicians haveaccess to the very latest technology."

The work, which also includes an upgrade of the network at Haywood Hospital in Burslem, is set to becompleted by the end of the month. The Trust is now looking at options to allow patients and visitors topay to use the wireless network. A three month pilot scheme, which allows patients in certain areas ofthe Trust to access the network, is due to be rolled out in the New Year.

Mark Bostock added: "Many of our patients have told us that having access to Wi-Fi would improve theirexperience during a hospital stay. At the moment the network is too heavily used by our clinicians toincrease access to patients and visitors. However, with this expansion in the network, we will soon beable to give patients the option to connect with the world outside the hospital."

Danny Robinson, Wi-Fi Refresh Project Manager at University Hospital, added: "The improvement of the

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wireless network service across the Trust in conjunction with KCom will allow clinicians, patients andvisitors to have access to a Wi-Fi network that is at the cutting edge of technology. This, coupled withfurther future infrastructure works, will ensure UHNM is able to keep pace with future IT technologicaladvancements."

KCom provides communication services for multi-site enterprise and public sector organisations acrossthe UK, and has a well-established partner channel. Afshin Attari, Director of Public Sector at KCom,said: "It's great to be working with University Hospital, helping them create an online and mobilecommunity that provides enhanced services to both staff and patients.

"We have worked closely with the Trust for a number of years and provide a range of technologies thatsupport their IT and healthcare strategies. This latest project puts University Hospital at the forefront ofusing modern technology in hospitals and is a great example of how it can support them in the delivery ofimproved patient care."

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