Poole Hospital deploys Alcatel-Lucent Wireless Local Area Network

Telecomworldwire, July 3, 2008

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-3 July 2008-Poole Hospital deploys Alcatel-Lucent Wireless Local Area Network(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Communications solutions provider Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris:ALU) (NYSE:ALU) announced on Wednesday (2 July) that Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, located in Dorset, UK, is deploying an Alcatel-Lucent Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to help improve patient care at its 789-bed hospital.

According to the company, the new network, to be installed by Alcatel-Lucent Business Partner Khipu Networks, a UK-based advanced systems integrator, will be used in association with printed patient wristbands to ensure patient safety by automating blood donation tracking and streamlining the process of dispensing drugs. In addition, the new network improves bedside care by improving knowledge sharing among the clinical staff with secure access to patient records and hospital resources.

The new network is based on the Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess WLAN technology. The initial rollout will provide up to 400 staff with wireless access and is capable of supporting more than 10,000 devices, the company claims.

In 2009, the Trust plans to add voice over IP (VoIP) to the wireless network, which is expected to reduce the Trust's telephony costs. No financial details were disclosed.

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