Award-winning hospital boosts patient care by investing in a highly resilient, predictable and scalable network supporting its clinical processes and devices.

Scalable, the IP networking and security specialist have worked with Extreme Networks to deploy a secure and simplified, network at Poole Hospital to support its 270,000 patients.

When Poole Hospital opened in 2006, its ICT infrastructure comprised a variety of network switches and anti-virus applications from different vendors.  Over time, the hospital found that, as a whole, this hybrid approach lacked continuity and uniform features, which promoted costly outages.  Anti-virus applications had been bought off-the-shelf and did not provide the integrated network security the hospital required.  Finally, a lack of a common network platform was impacting on the predictable availability and delivery of services by doctors to patients.  It became clear that to exceed the expectations of its 24/7 ICT service, the hospital would need to change its strategy and invest in a more resilient, feature rich and efficient network.

After evaluating tenders and technologies, Poole Hospital chose Scalable to deploy and service an Extreme Networks’ solution; the versatile Summit® X450a, X450e fixed switches were selected, complemented by security consisting of end-point protection to safeguard the network.

High Availability to Boost the Patient Experience

With clinicians relying heavily on the network to access historic patient data and operate diagnostic equipment, eliminating network downtime whilst easing access to devices and information were the key project objectives.

Extreme Networks’ high performance network solutions address resiliency and system availability through resilient hardware and a wealth of functionality. The Extreme XOS® modular operating system promotes availability with automatic process restart and carrier-class availability through the Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) protocol, a feature that integrates with the company’s product portfolio to provide instantaneous failover of the network, in less than 50ms. This consistent and powerful functionality helps to ensure continuous operation of the network with minimal disruption which is critical to any NHS medical environment.

A resilient network design spanning multiple locations at Poole Hospital also ensures the network continues to provide services in the event of a power loss.  As a result of planning, products and a progressive network topology, interruptions to the Poole Hospital system have been significantly reduced following its complete network renovation.

About Scalable

Founded in 1997 and now part of the Alternative Networks group of companies, Scalable is a leading independent provider of business communications solutions. With an enviable reputation as an IP networking and security specialist we put the intelligence into IP networks; secure, converged, high performance IP networks that are optimised for your now and provide agility for your future.

Partnering with Scalable has enabled organisations such as Conde Nast Publications, B&Q and Liverpool Women’s Hospital to drive increased profitability and competitive advantage. We take pride in our unequalled expertise, our deep understanding of emerging technologies and our strategic relationships with best-of-breed vendors. Delivering both data centre and campus solutions, we work with you consultatively to assess, design, implement, optimise and support your network, taking a cyclical approach of continuous improvement.