London NHS trusts opt for VoIP

Three London NHS trusts have signed a contract with Matrix Communications for almost £1m, to build and support a voice over IP telephone network.

As a result of the deal, 2,500 staff at Whittington Hospital will receive Mitel IP phones over the next four years.

Andi King, telecommunications services manager at Whittington Hospital, said: "We wanted to improve the telecommunications services for patients and staff and we saw VoIP as a promising solution. Upgrading our PBX system would not have allowed us the improved services we wanted for our patients."

The Camden and Islington ICT Shared Services unit, which supports the three trusts, has opted for mobile VoIP phones which allow employees to be reached while on the go. The service will provide VoIP across the two London boroughs, which have more than 100 sites.

Andy McClintock, director of ICT Shared Services at Islington Primary Care Trust, said: "We now have enhanced features and better sound quality and we are finding it easier and quicker to provide and support new telephone services with a more resilient system.

"Most importantly, our staff will benefit from mobile working and home working capabilities with the new solution. We are also seeing cost savings with the system."