Case Study
Southampton General Hospital
Mobile Connectivity Improvement Project
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust provides services to some 1.9 million people living in Southampton and south Hampshire, plus specialist services such as neurosciences, cardiac services and children’s intensive care to more than 3.7 million people in central southern England and the Channel Islands.
Southampton General Hospital is the Trust’s largest location, with a great number of specialist services based here, ranging from neurosciences and oncology to pathology and cardiology.
Emergency and critical care is provided in the hospital’s special intensive care units, operating theatres, acute medicine unit and emergency department (A&E), as well as the dedicated eye casualty.
1
m
people served
10000
staff
£
0
bn
turnover
The Challenge
Due to the design of the buildings and materials used during construction (concrete, steel and Low-E glass), many hospitals suffer from poor mobile signal.
The Accident & Emergency Department has struggled with poor mobile signal across all networks for a number of years. This can have a detrimental effect on both staff being able to carry out their daily duties as well as patients not being able to communicate with family, in what is often a highly stressful time.
In line with the “NHS Long Term Plan” in making better use of digital technology, improving connectivity and mobile coverage for staff and patients was a priority.
“Our Emergency department had terrible reception on all four of the major mobile phone networks and in some spots this was non-existent. Boost pro not only improved the mobile phone network for staff working in the hospital enabling digital services to continue but also enabled patients who found themselves in unexpected difficult times to be able to contact loved ones. All four networks now record Good to Excellent!
Project leads were 10/10, keeping things moving, understanding of the pressures a Major Trauma Centre Hospital. The surveying team were thorough and engaging, listening to our concerns and explaining the options, we used our own cabling company who had extensive site knowledge, the technicians who attended the site to liven the system completed the works quicker than promised.
Altogether a professional and personable team, open and honest on costs allowing informed decisions to be made, looking forward to completing phase two and would definitely recommend.”
Clara Mansbridge
Communication Service Manager
Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The Solution
Following an extensive consultation period between all parties, the Boost Pro technical team designed Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to improve the signal within the department for all four networks – O2, EE, Vodafone and Three.
The solution is an Active DAS Hybrid that provides uniform, high-quality mobile signal throughout the building, and is scalable to the size needed. This delivers a mobile signal that is up to 1000x stronger, utilizing CAT 5e/6 cabling for RF and Power over Ethernet, with no signal attenuation, right to the perimeter of the building.
With no operator licence required, installation was completed in a matter of days – this smart cellular solution delivers the industry’s highest gain, at the lowest cost per square metre.
✓All 4 networks improved
✓Up to 1000x stronger signal
✓3G / 4G LTE Voice and Data
The Results
A strong and consistent mobile signal across all four networks – o2, EE, Vodafone, and Three.
The solution has allowed patients, staff, and visitors to use their mobile devices on any mobile network, to make and receive phone calls, access data services, and receive text messages whilst in the hospital.
The team now benefits from health and safety, productivity and operational advantages of being able to use mobile devices on the move within the hospital building.
Due to the success of this Hybrid DAS rollout, the hospital is looking to roll this out across further areas of the hospital, starting with the North Wing in late 2022.
Our products are license-exempt and fully comply with Ofcom’s UK Interface requirement 2102 (IR2102) (UK) and ComReg S.I.No.283 of 2018 (Ireland).
