5G technology could save the NHS £1bn a year

Vodafone and Three merger paves the way for £11bn 5G investment

5G-enabled technologies are expected to help revolutionise the way health services are delivered

5G-enabled technologies will deliver significant improvements across society, including saving the NHS almost £1billion per year, according to new economic modelling. 

The modelling, commissioned by Vodafone and conducted by WPI Economics, shows: 

• Higher-quality remote 5G-enabled check-ups and real-time patient monitoring through Internet of Things (IoT) technology will reduce the need for GP and hospital visits. This, an example of a shift to a preventative healthcare approach, could result in £1billion of NHS savings per year – savings which could cover the equivalent of 15,400 new full time nursing posts
• 5G-connected ambulances could enable paramedics to send scans and initial diagnosis enroute for doctors to review before the patient has even arrived in hospital – meaning quicker treatment and more-manageable A&E departments 
• Large file sharing like MRI scans and electronic patient records, which typically take two weeks to process, will soon be shared seamlessly between hospitals, cutting the turnaround time by 50% 

The findings follow the announcement of the planned combination of Vodafone UK and Three UK, as well as the launch of Vodafone’s 5G Standalone connectivity service which will create the most-technologically-advanced telecommunications network in the UK.  

The initial launch of Vodafone’s 5G Standalone network will offer a glimpse of what is possible in the digital future, while the merger will give the two companies the scale required to invest £11billion over the next decade.

Altogether, this will create Europe’s leading 5G network, support the Government’s 5G ambitions, drive digital transformation, and create new jobs. 

Improving society

And it comes as new research reveals that the public is realising the role technology can play in improving society.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by Vodafone, found healthcare (31%) was identified as a key sector that people think will benefit most from 5G.

Our proposed combination with Three UK will give us the scale to accelerate investment in the UK’s digital future and the launch of Vodafone 5G Ultra gives a taste of what life could be like

Unsurprisingly, this was also the area people say they have been most frustrated with in the last 12 months. 

Ahmed Essam, chief executive of Vodafone UK, said: “Our research shows half of the population think that technology could make their lives easier.

“For the other half, it’s up to us to bring to life the difference technologies like 5G Ultra can make to everyday life – the streets we walk down, the trains we travel on, and how we look after one another. 

“Our proposed combination with Three UK will give us the scale to accelerate investment in the UK’s digital future and the launch of Vodafone 5G Ultra gives a taste of what life could be like.

“Together we can deliver innovation further and faster.”  

Companies

• Vodafone