Emergency communications boosted at royal north shore hospital

The NSW Telco Authority has completed installation of a government radio network site at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The new site significantly improves critical communication coverage for emergency services by providing a single, integrated radio service to coordinate responses during critical incidents.

NSW Telco Authority Managing Director Kate Foy said network coverage had been impacted over time due to the expansion of the hospital and the growth of the North Sydney CBD nearby.

"Radio signals are weakened when they pass through buildings, particularly where there are thick concrete walls for specialist rooms that hold medical imaging equipment or UV protective glass," Ms Foy said.

"These improvements deliver significantly enhanced coverage for emergency service users both in-building and outside the hospital."

Assistant Commissioner Peter Elliott from NSW Ambulance welcomed the in-building coverage improvements.

"The upgrades to the network at Royal North Shore Hospital improve safety measures for paramedics. It also allows our paramedics to more easily share information and communicate responses with our control centres," Mr Elliott said.

The enhancements at RNSH have also provided government radio network capacity to the recently opened Northern Beaches Health Precinct.

This project is part of the NSW Telco Authority’s Critical Communications Enhancement Program which is enhancing government radio network coverage and capacity across the state.

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