NHS Highland has said new technology that boosts mobile phone and internet signals in remote locations could be a “game-changer”.
Trials of the “Omni-hub” system could lead to the introduction of quicker, more responsive and sustainable health care services, if successful.
The health board has been testing the system since last month to find out if it can provide secure, resilient, high quality and cost-effective communication in areas considered to have low or, in some cases, almost non-existent coverage.
A system has been installed at the Armadale medical practice in Sutherland, where coverage for the surrounding area can sometimes be patchy.
Further tests are planned to use a portable backpack version of Omni-hub in the area that can be used by GPs and associated health practitioners in the field – especially in the out of hours period where practitioners are working alone.
Evan Beswick, NHS Highland’s out-of-hours project manager, said: “If successful, Omni-hub will be an enabling element to help implement health and social care models that have made improvements elsewhere.
“An added bonus is that Omni-hub could help boost much needed Wi-Fi links – up to 15 kilometres – that the communities themselves could tap into.”
Omni-hub incorporates an antenna “pod” that includes an integrated GPS system, allowing it to capture the best cellular and satellite signals simultaneously from any of the network sim cards installed in the system.
Streams of data can be linked up to multi devices such as laptops, mobiles and tablets, so enabling access to clinical systems.
