Mobile Signal Booster at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust serves a large population across five hospitals in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. With over 13,000 employees, the Trust provides care to approximately 1 million people. In the 2019-2020 period, the Trust facilitated 1.2 million outpatient visits and 230,000 inpatient admissions.

With the widespread use of smartphones among key hospital staff—such as doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel—reliable communication is essential. However, poor mobile signal strength within hospital buildings, particularly in critical areas like A&E, made it difficult to reach staff quickly, especially during emergencies. Delays in communication within such high-pressure environments were increasingly becoming problematic, impacting overall operational efficiency.

The Head of Voice at UHDB identified that network issues affected all mobile service providers across the hospital. The priority for the first phase of the installation was to enhance coverage for critical areas including the Kings Treatment Centre, Security Offices, Pharmacy Stores, and Estates Offices at Royal Derby Hospital.

After successfully completing the initial phase, UHDB then commissioned a second phase of the installation aimed at boosting signal coverage in the Adult & Children’s Emergency Departments at the Royal Derby Hospital, ensuring better communication and ultimately improving patient care.

Considering the project’s budget, timeline, and specific needs, the CEL-FI SOLO was selected as the ideal solution for both installation phases.

The hospital’s complex building design, with concrete floors, posed certain challenges when routing cables and positioning antennas across multiple floors. However, the skilled installation team navigated these obstacles effectively, ensuring minimal disruption during the process.

Post-installation, the hospital experienced a noticeable improvement in mobile signal strength throughout the areas covered by the boosters. This enhancement resulted in more efficient communication among staff, leading to quicker responses in emergencies and smoother hospital operations, which ultimately contributed to improved patient care.

In today’s business world, reliable mobile phone coverage is more than a convenience—it’s essential for productivity and success. Here’s why maintaining a strong mobile signal is so important:

• Streamlined Collaboration: Poor call quality and dropped connections can disrupt conversations, cause confusion, and waste valuable time.
• Increased Employee Productivity: Reliable mobile connectivity keeps staff connected to essential apps, emails, and cloud platforms without interruptions, ensuring they work more efficiently.
• Exceptional Customer Service: Fast and dependable communication improves customer interactions, helping to seize opportunities and avoid delays.
• Uninterrupted Operations: A strong mobile signal supports critical business functions, ensuring operations remain smooth—even during emergencies.