West Lothian firm boosting health facilities' connectivity flags positive prognosis

A West Lothian telecoms group that boosts connectivity in settings such as hospitals and Covid testing centres is targeting further growth in 2021 after nearly doubling headcount in the past year and investing in new technology.

Clarus Site Solutions was formed by Derek and Debra Phillips, and it launched in 2014, followed by Boost Pro Systems in 2018. Picture: contributed.

Livingston-based Clarus Site Solutions, together with sister company Boost Pro Systems, have taken the steps to deliver key connectivity services to healthcare sites across the UK, helping medics send key information between departments, for example.

The group has grown to a team of 35 from 20 a year ago across its three main offices – which also include Manchester and London.

Efforts include expanding the project-management and engineering teams, to support the roll-out of mobile signal improvement services in multiple key hospitals for the NHS.

Clarus Site Solutions was formed by husband-and-wife team Derek and Debra Phillips, and it launched in 2014. They launched Boost Pro Systems in 2018, in accordance with the legalisation of specific types of mobile signal repeaters in the UK. Due to increased demand on healthcare infrastructure in 2020, its technology has been installed in several key hospitals, including Liverpool A&E, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Ninewells Hospital.

It cites research finding that digital connectivity plays a key role in clinical communication and healthcare delivery, and Boost Pro Systems uses legal mobile signal booster technology to provide reliable cellular coverage in hospitals where architecture and construction materials block the mobile signal. The company says it is an authorised provider of licence-exempt mobile repeaters in the UK.

Its Distributed Antenna System (DAS) allows doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel to transmit patient files, medical information, and routine or emergency communications between departments. Boost Pro Systems adds that it offers bespoke scalable mobile signal network improvement services, and provides ongoing managed telecommunications services that include physical testing, automatic updates, and digital performance monitoring.

“In addition to public healthcare facilities, Boost Pro’s DAS solutions have aided urgent pharmaceuticals production on a global scale, as well as mobile signal improvement for Yorkshire’s Fire & Rescue Services and The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice,” the firm also stated.

Operational

Clarus Site Solutions has also connected hundreds of Covid testing centres with 4G and 5G broadband. “This rapid-deployment solution has enabled test centres to be fully operational from day one, allowing employees to communicate across sites and ensure results are delivered to patients within 24 hours,” it said.

Mr Phillips, MD of Clarus Site Solutions and Boost Pro Systems, said: “We are proud to have grown despite the challenges of 2020, bringing in new talent and using our expertise to implement solutions that have improved operations for the healthcare sector in particular. We have a very strong pipeline of projects across the UK and will continue to invest and grow further in 2021.”

Anne Hattie, operations director of Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, said: “Patient comfort is of paramount importance to the hospice, so for them to be able to call friends and family from their rooms is fantastic.”

Major ventures in which Clarus Site Solutions has been involved to provide connectivity include HS2, the RAF Lossiemouth construction initiative, and the Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven project.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.