Vodafone is working with Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to ensure patients have connectivity to virtual healthcare

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust recognises that connectivity is key when it comes to the future of community health , for both patients and staff , which is why they are working with Vodafone .

The trust , which is the main provider of community health for patients from Brighton and Hove to West Sussex , employs more than 6,000 workers , clocking up 9,000 home visits per day .

“ The majority of care in the NHS happens outside of an acute hospital or GP surgery ,” said Diarmaid Crean who is Chief Digital and Technology Officer of the trust . “ I see us as the glue of the NHS . As we are seeing more patients being treated at home we need to ensure these patients can connect which is why we have partnered with Vodafone .

“ People get better at home , not in hospital ,” said Crean .

Hospital at home The trust runs a service called Hospital at Home which offers remote monitoring devices which Crean describes as a “ wraparound service ” like a hospital setting .

“ During the pandemic our clinicians were unable to go into their homes , so we deployed remote monitoring technology and managed large cohorts of patients by monitoring their vitals and carrying out video consultations . It ’ s a very clever piece of technology and efficient in terms of reducing our carbon footprint .

Mobile device manager In order to manage the amount of laptops and smartphones used by staff , the trust partnered with Vodafone for the secure Mobile Device Manager .

“ This helps us manage tens of thousands of devices . The Mobile Device Manager allows us to manage all of that equipment and enables us to allow our staff to keep working .

This new way of working allows the trust to drive efficiencies , said Crean . “ I would see our relationship with Vodafone as being pivotal in us realising that opportunity . “ The ambition with Vodafone is for the relationship to deepen and strengthen as we are such a mobile workforce .”

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