High-speed broadband improves patient care
Monday, 03 August, 2009
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has been linked up to a multi-million pound network set to help improve patient care across the region.
The Community of Interest Network (COIN) will run across N3, the broadband network BT has built for the NHS as part of the National Programme for Information Technology.
This new high-speed network underpins the modernisation of NWAS's communications linking up 141 ambulance sites across the North West. It will save almost £60,000 a year in data bills, which will be invested into frontline services and other patient related initiatives across the Trust.
NWAS now has an infrastructure in place, which, enables all headquarters and ambulance stations in Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Lancashire, and Cheshire and Merseyside to operate using the same IT platforms, tools and applications. It also supports new development tools to equip paramedics with information to enhance the patient experience.
In the future the network will give paramedics access to information such as drug management tools and operational applications, methods and improvements.
