York trust boosts connectivity with fibre optic technology

Published: 12-Dec-2011

Fibre optic connection allows for improved MSK service at York trust


YORK Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (York NHSFT) is hoping to reduce the number of visits each patient has to make and cut costs through the introduction of a new fibre optic connection.

Built by CityFibre and operated by Pinacl, the system links the trust’s Clifton Park Clinic site - The Chapel - to the rest of the hospital network via a fibre optic metro ring, first built for the City of York Council.

The metro ring already connects more than 100 local authority buildings and has been designed to enable the council to take advantage of superfast connectivity including broadband and citywide wireless. York NHSFT has now adopted the same technology.

The system took three months to install from contract signing and has meant that The Chapel can launch a new community-based extended scope practitioner (ESP) service, part of the musculoskeletal clinical assessment, triage and treatment service (MSK CATTS) offering one-stop clinics for adults experiencing musculoskeletal problems.

Melanie Liley, directorate manager for therapies and trauma and orthopaedics at the trust, said: “The new high-speed connection to The Chapel site is integral to the successful delivery of the service and without it we would have had to source an alternative community-based location for the ESP clinics. If this had proved difficult, we may not have been able to tender for the contract.”

She added: “The new service benefits everyone. It delivers real, tangible savings for the health economy, not to mention the benefits to patients in terms of quality service provision, cost and time.”

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