NHS VoIP implemented in 100th site

Monday, November 09, 2009

There are now 100 NHS sites using the N3 broadband network's voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services.

The N3 broadband network connects every trust in the NHS through a high-speed connection. In July 2007, the network became VoIP enabled, meaning trusts could use the broadband network to make free calls between NHS sites.

According to Connecting for Health, the 100th NHS site has now implemented this service, with over one million calls having already been made for free. There are 44 large acute sites using the service and 56 smaller sites, typically GP practices.

Len Chard, N3 Programme Manager at NHS Connecting for Health said: "An increasing number of NHS organisations are taking advantage of our voice offerings and reducing the cost of their telephone calls.

"N3 Voice Services are not mandated, they are a local choice and sold on merit so the statistics really speak for themselves. This week we reached our 100th N3 Voice site.

"By the end of April next year we expect the number of calls across N3 to have hit 10 million and we are on track to reach 100 million calls by May 2011."