NHS England has begun a new round of its Wireless Trials programme with a call for organisations to take part in trials of relevant technologies to support patient care.
It said it is open to applications through its Connectivity Hub for funding for projects to improve connectivity in health and care or maximise the efficiency of existing digital infrastructure.
The process will be reviewed throughout the year on a rolling basis. Applicants will need to provide an overview of their wireless project and objectives, the anticipated outcome and impact for delivery of health or social care, as well as the healthcare need or technological challenge they are seeking to overcome.
Successful applicants will benefit from funding for their projects – the level of which has not yet been announced – along with advice and guidance from NHS England, and the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organisations on Wi-Fi improvement projects.
NHS England will also capture best practice from successful trialists and share this across the wider NHS to enable scaled learning.
It said the programme will provide organisations with the capability to deliver digital ambitions under the NHS Long Term Plan.
Delivering better services
Stephen Koch, executive director of platforms, NHS England, said: “Wireless technology has an increasingly important role to play in delivering effective and efficient digital health services to provide the best care for patients.
“The wireless trials are designed to help the NHS understand how existing and emerging Wi-Fi solutions can support the delivery of better health and social care across the wider NHS.
“We look forward to working with successful trialists to explore opportunities for wireless technologies and high speed connectivity that take another step forward in digital transformation and in improving patient care.”
Previous wireless trials included the development of University College London Hospitals’ Find and Treat service, which uses high tech tools and software to provide real time remote diagnosis and referrals on board a mobile health unit. The service provides remote screening, testing and treatment for vulnerable, homeless, and high risk people in London.
Another trial led to South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust becoming the first 5G connected hospital in the UK. The trial gave clinicians access to digital innovations such as the eObs app (eObservations), which enables the use of handheld devices to update patient records digitally and make live observations.
