Infrastructure-as-a-service provider Freshwave advanced UK medical connectivity ambitions with its latest installation of 4G in a hospital, a move it indicated could all-but eliminate billions of pounds in lost value for the healthcare sector.
The distributed antenna system (DAS) at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London enables access to all major UK mobile operator networks for staff, patients and visitors. Freshwave highlighted the role of the set-up in achieving digital healthcare ambitions in buildings where outdoor signal penetration can be tricky due to thick walls and labyrinthian layouts.
Freshwave pointed to research among healthcare professionals which indicates improved indoor connectivity could release £3.5 billion in economic value in a sector estimated to be losing £3.8 billion due to poor connectivity.
The company believes the DAS set-up at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital highlights the benefits any such medical facility could reap in terms of accessing specialist peer-to-peer messaging apps and technologies deployed as part of the broader digital healthcare push.
Freshwave CEO Simon Frumkin summed it up by saying reliable indoor coverage enables staff to “access critical digital tools without interruption” and patients to “stay connected with their families”.
The company argued mobile is a better option than Wi-Fi, which “is sometimes overburdened” and so can fail.
Freshwave noted UK goals for digital healthcare go so far as to create an entirely online hospital, whereby patients are connected directly to clinicians.
Source: https://www.mobileworldlive.com/industry/freshwave-adds-das-of-4g-to-uk-hospital/
