Liverpool consortium supporting health and social care secures £4.3m extra funding
The University of Liverpool has secured an extra £4.3 m funding for the Liverpool 5G create- a unique consortium supporting health and social care in the city. According to a press release published by Liverpool 5G on July 31, 2020, the project will develop a “blueprint” for the use of private 5G networks in delivering public services. As part of the 5G create competition run by the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the total funding of the project is £7.2 m.
For Matt Warman, Digital Infrastructure Minister, the funding for the deployment of 5G aims to explore the ways in which revolutionary technology can make people’s lives better. “Coronavirus requires us to look at new ways to provide healthcare remotely to the most vulnerable and I’m delighted to commit further funding to Liverpool’s successful 5G trial working on this issue”, he said according to the press release.
The University of Liverpool leads the consortium with partners Liverpool City Council, Blu Wireless Technology Ltd, Broadway Partners Ltd, Liverpool John Moores University, CGA Simulation Ltd, Docobo Ltd, NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust. The project is expected to run until March 2022 aiming to reduce the digital divide by providing reliable connectivity for health, social care, and education in selected areas in Liverpool.
The University of Liverpool said that the fifth-generation technology would be deployed for remotely supporting a medical-grade device to handle and monitor health conditions, according to Government Computing. On the other hand, the project would be an app that teaches techniques in anxiety reduction, a remote GP triaging service, along with wound care and management and sensor technology.
As part of its 5G Testbed and Trials Programme, the project will be built on the previous 5G Health and Social Care Testbed in Kensington, Liverpool. “This is a great opportunity to build on our previous testbed and develop the British technology that can change people’s lives by enabling affordable connectivity and reducing digital poverty,” said Joe Spencer, Project Lead Professor, according to Regenerating Liverpool.
Chief Business Development Officer at Blu Wireless, Henry Nurser sees the project as a significant and positive step towards the UK’s ambition of becoming a global leader in 5G technology. “We are extremely proud to be part of this journey”, he said according to Regenerating Liverpool.