Patients benefit from strengthened internet connectivity trial at four NHS hospital emergency departments

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has awarded a contract to trial the provision of significantly enhanced internet connectivity at four hospital emergency departments, where access to the internet has traditionally been poor or non-existent.?

The Hybrid Connex solution from emergency services connectivity specialists Excelerate Technology was one of a number tested as part of NHS England’s Future Connectivity Wireless Innovation Trials, of which EEAST was a triallist. Hybrid Connex has now been installed at hospitals in Harlow, Peterborough, Luton and Colchester using NHS England funding for the Trials.?

The solution has immediate benefits for patients, the ambulance service and hospitals because patients can be transferred much faster with the correct patient data and information made immediately available, reducing hospital handover times and allowing crews to get back on the road to tend to other patients.?

For ambulance crews waiting at emergency departments, strong, reliable internet connectivity allows staff to connect to digital systems such as NHS Spine-connected services one hundred per cent of the time, giving them access to patient history and enabling them to identify the most appropriate care pathways, make the right decisions for the patient and provide the opportunity for the best possible clinical outcomes. Some of the key benefits include:?

• Reduced risk to patients due to clerical errors: Real time transfer of data (and elimination of data package delays) to acute hospitals enables real time information sharing and faster escalation of deteriorating patients, whilst also reducing the risk of medication errors.?

• Reduction in handover delays: Efficient, faster transfer of data between cohorting crews reduces delays for the release of ambulances back into service.?

• Better patient experience: Improved use of digital platforms to maintain wellbeing of patients in ambulances awaiting transfer into hospital (particularly paediatrics).?

• Better patient outcomes: Crews have access to key patient data systems via shared services while queuing at emergency departments.?

The Hybrid Connex technology bonds clever software, cutting-edge hardware and cellular and satellite services into one package that effectively creates unbreakable, permanent connectivity, combining seamless 4G, 5G and satellite connections that ensure a fast, resilient connectivity solution that is never offline.??

Bethan Evans, Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate says: “We are delighted to be involved in this trial which is being closely monitored by NHS England’s Digital Transformation Directorate. The Hybrid Connex solution takes around a day to install and has virtually no impact on the physical infrastructure of the hospital or the hospital’s own IT systems, opening the door to the simple potential rollout of the same solution in many other NHS healthcare venues, which are similarly challenged by poor, or no, internet connection.?

“Although the NHSE funding was only for this Wireless Trial, we are keen to hear from NHS organisations who could benefit from this technology themselves such as other hospital emergency departments, outpatients’ departments, community hospitals, GP surgeries, minor injuries centres or specialist care centres – basically anywhere that internet connectivity is a problem. The benefits to patients and staff are significant while the investment required is relatively minimal.”?

Philip Elvidge, Electronic Patient Care Records Lead (Paramedic) at East of England Ambulance Service said: “When we lose connection, clinical apps stop being able to pull information from our Computer Aided Dispatch system, cease being able to pull information from our Personal Demographics Service trace to bring the patient's NHS number into record and prevent us being able to upload information to our key partners. However, with the new Hybrid Connex trial at these four hospitals we have been able to access the Summary Care Records and National Record Locator consistently, which gives our staff access to patients’ End of Life and Mental Health Plans, giving access to key information any time of the day to help us make the right clinical decisions for our patients.”?

To get involved, or to find out more, visit the Hybrid Connex online engagement portal https://www.hybridconnex.co.uk or email [email protected] .