The Impact of Poor Internet and Phone Systems within Care Homes

Established for over 25 years, Orbital Net have been providing reliable internet and phone solutions to care homes across the UK, including rural areas where internet options are limited or previously non-existent.

With the upcoming Digital Switchover looming, it is vital that all care settings now review their current set up to ensure they have suitable connections to navigate the switch off.

In today’s digital age, reliable internet and phone systems are not just conveniences but essential for modern living, especially within care homes.

Unfortunately, many care homes are plagued by inadequate internet and phone systems, leading to a cascade of negative impacts on residents, staff, and the overall quality of care.

Effective communication is the backbone of any care facility.

It is crucial for: 

• Coordinating activities
• Managing medical care
• Ensuring residents’ safety

Poor internet and phone systems can severely disrupt these communication channels. Slow internet speeds and unreliable phone lines can delay the communication of vital information, hindering emergency response times, and creating internal barriers between staff, residents, and their families. These delays can be seriously detrimental in emergencies where time is of the essence.

The mental health and emotional well-being of care home residents are significantly influenced by their ability to stay connected with loved ones. In an era where digital communication is paramount, inadequate internet access can lead to social isolation and loneliness. Many residents rely on video calls and social media to maintain relationships with family and friends, especially when in-person visits are restricted, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Without reliable internet, these virtual lifelines are cut off.

Healthcare increasingly relies on digital technology for a range of services, from electronic health records (EHR) to telemedicine. Poor internet connectivity can hinder the ability of care homes to efficiently manage and access EHRs, leading to delays in medical care. Telemedicine, which became a crucial service during the pandemic, is particularly affected. Reliable internet is necessary for high-quality video consultations between residents and healthcare professionals. Without it, residents may face unnecessary hospital visits and inadequate medical attention, putting their health at risk.

Good internet and phone systems can significantly impact staff and their daily duties. Tasks such as accessing patient records, coordinating care, and communicating with healthcare providers are no longer time-consuming, leading to reduced frustration and tasks being completed as planned and on schedule.

Ensuring that all care homes have access to reliable and high-speed internet and digital phone services is what Orbital Net specialise in. We offer our own unique wireless fibre which has been instrumental in supporting rural customers who have no access to any alternative internet infrastructure. We approach every project individually to ensure we are building bespoke solutions to match our client’s needs.

From digital phones (VoiP) to leased lines through to fibre to the premises and full fibre broadband, we provide a wide variety of internet services to ensure you have the most suitable connection for your business requirements and that you are also fully prepared for the 2027 digital switch off.

Many care homes worry about their internal infrastructure, Orbital Net work with a variety of partners, enabling us to be your one stop shop for all connectivity demands.

“The Orbital Net differentiator is that we’re agile, flexible, and we are able move quicker than the bigger ISPs – we’re quicker to service our customers, we’re quicker to respond to changing market conditions, we’re quicker to evolve.”— Ben Doherty, CEO, Orbital Internet Group

For further information or to arrange a no-obligation free connectivity audit for your care home, please contact the Orbital team on solutions@orbital.net / www.orbital.net / fibre.orbital.net/care