NHS pagers to be ditched for messaging platforms

The NHS has been told to stop using pagers for communications by 2021, in order to save money.

The health service still uses about 130,000 pagers, which is about 10% of the total left in use globally.

They cost the NHS about £6.6m a year, because only one service provider supports them.

The BBC has reported that Health Secretary Matt Hancock said
“email and mobile phones” were a “more secure, quicker and cheaper way to communicate”.

“We have to get the basics right, like having computers that work and getting rid of archaic technology like pagers and fax machines,” he said.

Simon Hayler, Director of GHM Care says: “Our messaging platform has been developed specifically for the care sector and care homes. Instead of using pagers, alerts such as nurse call alerts, alarms and notifications are sent directly to smart phones that the carers, doctors and nurses can quickly accept, decline or transfer.

“It’s not possible or efficient for teams to be carrying multiple devices. An effective messaging platform such as Nexus Care is now the technology of choice as it improves communication, mobility and speed of response.”