Two Shires Ambulance Trust, which covers Buckhamshire and Northamptonshire, have installed a new virtual private network which manufactures Redstone say will improve response times through faster communication. The existing connection, which was on dial-up, has now been replaced with an ADSL service, and the trust’s 24 sites have now been fully networked on a LAN. Gareth Vines, IT manager at Two Shires Ambulance Trust, said: “As an emergency service, quick and clear communications between all staff are essential. As soon as the NHS approved the use of broadband, we were keen to update our costly and slow dial-up system." Rob Bruce, product development director at Redstone, said: "Ambulance services are under pressure to meet government targets on response times and patient service. With increasing centralisation of resources, communications networks must ensure that frontline staff can deliver a fast, fully-co-ordinated response to calls. “By enabling information to be shared easily and securely across dispersed teams, as at Two Shires, virtual private networks are helping health professionals to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of service provided to the public." According to Redstone, the faster connectivity and upgraded bandwidth resulting from the transfer from dial-up will have a direct effect on helping staff transfer information more quickly. IT staff will also have greater control over the network at their disposal. Redstone’s existing NHS clients include King’s College Hospital, London and Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust.
