BT wins WA hospital IT contract, promises 90 jobs

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 16 August 2011 12:40

IT Industry - Deals

BT has been selected by international services company, Serco, to be its IT partner on the new Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth. The deal represents a first of BT, which has been trying for some time to export its expertise in the sector into the Australian market.

Under the contract, BT will install and manage the hospital's communications infrastructure and run a range of IT services "aimed at helping the hospital become one of the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly hospitals in the country."

According to BT Global Services CEO, Jeff Kelly: "BT has a long and successful history as a leading supplier of communications and IT services to the healthcare sector. While our primary focus has been in the UK with our work with the National Health Service, we are now looking to apply this unique knowledge and expertise globally, especially in the Asia Pac region."

BT says it will create more than 70 jobs in Western Australia as a result of the contract. "Up to 10 new positions are already being established following the signing of the contract [and] BT has committed to the development of its Health Practice in Australia, with the team expanding to over 90 people in Australia throughout the next two years," the company said.

It added: "The Health Practice includes experts in clinical design assurance, clinical safety management, technical architecture and major program practice'¦In Australia BT has already utilised its clinical safety management experience and portfolio to support NeHTA [The National E-Health Transition Authority] in successfully developing its own clinical safety management capability."

Serco, as the lead service integrator, will work with the Western Australian Government on the provision of non-clinical services and BT will act as its key IT partner. The 783 bed hospital is due for completion by 2014.

BT will provide an MPLS technology on the campus augmented with a WiFi mesh network to enable innovative unified communication solutions. BT said the hospital also intends to introduce RFID technology to track equipment such as scanners, ultrasound equipment and defibrillators "to ensure asset levels are appropriate for the hospital, and that critical equipment is available at the right time at the right location."