11,300 NHS BEDS SET TO GET THE MULTIMEDIA TREATMENT
Leading systems integrators, Central Telecom, have capped their most successful year ever, by securing their biggest contract to date - a £2 million deal to supply leading edge communications systems to the NHS.
The company, whose headquarters is in Burton-on-Trent and has satellite offices in London, Manchester and Guildford, has signed a ground-breaking deal with healthcare communications specialists The Wandsworth Group, to deliver 24 NHS Trust sites and 11,300 beds across the UK with a 'Beside the Bed' hospital solution incorporating TV, radio, telephone and high speed internet access.
The company has been working closely with the Wandsworth Group and Mitel Networks, a market leader in voice, video and data convergence, to develop an innovative communications solution. The solution is designed to improve the patient care experience by providing them with access to Patient Power (Tele-Call), a fully digital IP patient entertainment and information system.
Central Telecom have been awarded the contract for ten years, which involves provisioning each of the 24 UK hospitals with the fully integrated solution and providing a two-tier level of support in the form of on-site technicians and a 24X7 Tele-Call Operator Centre.
The fully digital Tele-Call Patient Power Project forms a major part of the Government's plans to reform the NHS. It brings a unique blend of media to the patient bedside. The technology used is the Mitel NetworksT 3300 Integrated Communications Platform (ICP) and the Mitel NetworksT 6600 Your Assistant. The 6600 Your Assistant has been embedded into Wandsworth's existing Tele-Call bedside console via the 3300 ICP to provide a voice-over-IP solution that delivers superior voice capabilities in a very user-friendly manner.
The Tele-Call system is the only fully digital, IP-based interactive system currently on the market and operates over a single fibre Cat 5E network. With less cabling required, the system can produce significant cost savings.
The core elements of this application have been embedded into the Tele-Call bedside console and integrate with third party applications to deliver voice, voice-mail, high-speed e-mail and Internet access, movies and games to the patient.
The system also allows hospital staff to access electronic patient records, interactive menu ordering, bed management and discharge administration, ensuring that the ward is run efficiently.
Central Telecom has a proven track record in developing integrated telecommunications solutions for the NHS. It has established a dedicated NHS Solutions Team, which has specialist knowledge of NHS communication solutions and is authorised to supply and support health markets throughout the UK with voice, video and data products and services.
"To land this contract is a reflection of our current status as the UK's leading systems integrator", commented Andy McDougall, Central Telecom Managing Director.
"The Tele-Call system is designed to improve the whole patient experience and we have worked closely with Central Telecom and Mitel to provide a first class solution that will be expandable in line with future developments in communications technology", commented Richard Mocket Managing Director of The Wandsworth Group.
"Mitel Networks is delighted to be working in partnership with Central Telecom to support the Tele-Call Patient project. This project highlights our flexibility and responsiveness in working with our channel partners to implement customised solutions to better meet the needs of their customers," added Enda Keneally, UK Indirect Sales Director.
