| For those of us who are not all too familiar with | | | | The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital has also |
| internet telephony and packet-switched networks, | | | | improved its in house communication system via |
| VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is essentially | | | | a Siemens telephony platform. The hospital |
| voice communication, but using an internet | | | | serves children in Manchester, Salford, and |
| network. This method of communication for | | | | elsewhere in the region over a number of sites, |
| business has a number of benefits: costs can be | | | | and due to some relocation set for 2009, has |
| reduced by using your existing intranet or internet | | | | needed to adopt a more up date system than |
| network, and the systems are inherently flexible | | | | already exists. During a time when simple |
| with means for videoconferencing and network | | | | operations might have been hindered considerably |
| expansion being a relatively simple process. These | | | | by relocation work etc, the efficiency of the new |
| are no doubt the preliminary factors that attract | | | | system was realized by an improved PC-based |
| hospital planners to VoIP for their communication | | | | switchboard which was quicker, and easier to use |
| needs today. | | | | and modify then the previous system. The nature |
| One specific area that VoIP has proven to be | | | | of the new telephony platform means that it will |
| suitable for UK hospitals is by being successfully | | | | also be easier to maintain over the next few |
| integrated at the pace required by its users. | | | | years. |
| Derriford Hospital, in Plymouth South Devon, | | | | Perhaps the biggest move came when the East |
| began its upgrade to an computer telephony | | | | Sussex Hospitals Trust (including Eastbourne |
| system in 2004 and plans to have installed 6000 | | | | Hospital, Bexhill Hospital, and Conquest Hospital) |
| IP phones over 8 sites (including the biggest | | | | merged together recently. The aim of the new |
| hospital in the South West, as well as other | | | | trust was to establish a centralised operator that |
| smaller surgeries) by 2014. The main challenge | | | | would manage calls and voicemail for all the sites, |
| was to keep the existing system working whilst | | | | additionally, the new integrated IP telephony |
| installing the new flexible infrastructure. Now, | | | | system also includes a direct maintenance link with |
| doctors and nurses across 60 percent of the | | | | a team who are alerted automatically by the |
| sites can keep in contact. Once the system is 100 | | | | system should a fault occur. This not only offers |
| percent integrated, the next upgrade will include | | | | the entire trust a comprehensive communication |
| wireless telephones handsets that will also offer | | | | network, but one that patients and staff can also |
| SMS-style communication from patients to staff. | | | | have more confident in. |