Modernising Healthcare Through Secure Digital Networks

About:

Chesterfield Royal Hospital is an acute general hospital located in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and is managed by Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services Ltd (DSFS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust, providing a wide range of essential support services including IT, finance, procurement, clinical engineering, and facilities management.

DSFS plays a key role in delivering and supporting the digital infrastructure that underpins clinical care across the Trust.

Background

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust required a modern wireless networking solution to replace its ageing Aerohive infrastructure, which consisted primarily of AP230 access points.

The existing wireless environment was no longer capable of supporting the increasing number of connected devices, growing bandwidth demands and evolving clinical applications. As a result, users experienced inconsistent wireless performance, reduced capacity during peak periods, and areas of poor coverage across the hospital estate.

Business Benefits

To support the Trust’s digital transformation programme, EE was engaged to design and deliver a complete replacement wireless infrastructure, including the following professional services:

  • Wireless solution design
  • Comprehensive high and low-level design documentation
  • Project management
  • Installation, configuration, testing, and commissioning
  • On-site knowledge transfer and staff training
  • User and operational documentation
  • Full solution handover and project closure

Challenges & Solutions:

EE transformed the Trust’s wireless network at the start of March 2022, through the deployment of Aruba Wi-Fi 6E technology using Aruba AP-635 Series Access Points across the hospital estate. The new infrastructure significantly increased wireless capacity, improved performance, and provided seamless coverage throughout the site.

The wireless environment is centrally managed using Aruba AirWave, while Aruba ClearPass provides secure network access control, enhanced visibility, and policy-based authentication. Together, these platforms deliver proactive monitoring, simplified troubleshooting, and improved security, reducing operational overhead for the Trust’s IT team.

Following the successful completion of the wireless deployment, the Trust commissioned EE to modernise its wired network infrastructure. The wired refresh introduced Aruba CX6300 Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches throughout the estate, alongside upgrades to the existing Aruba CX8400 core switching platform. Aruba Central was also implemented to provide unified cloud-based management for the wired environment, delivering a single management platform across the entire network infrastructure. 

Results:

The new network infrastructure provides Chesterfield Royal Hospital with a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital platform capable of supporting the Trust’s long-term technology strategy.

The deployment delivers high-performance wired and wireless connectivity throughout the hospital, providing the foundation for the rollout of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and other critical clinical applications. Reliable and seamless connectivity enables clinicians and support staff to securely access digital systems wherever they are needed, improving productivity and supporting better patient care.

By implementing Aruba Central, AirWave, and ClearPass, the Trust now benefits from centralised network management, AI-assisted monitoring, and enhanced operational visibility. These capabilities reduce manual administration, accelerate fault resolution, and allow the IT team to proactively manage network performance.

The modernised infrastructure directly supports the Trust’s strategic objectives by delivering:

  • High-speed, resilient wired and wireless connectivity across the hospital estate
  • Increased network capacity to support modern clinical devices and applications
  • Enhanced visibility through advanced analytics, reporting, and performance monitoring
  • Improved operational efficiency through centralised management and automation
  • A secure network architecture with continuous monitoring and policy-based access control
  • A scalable platform capable of supporting future digital

Conclusion:

Chesterfield Royal Hospital now benefits from a modern, resilient, and highly secure wired and wireless network that supports both current operational requirements and future digital transformation.

The upgraded infrastructure provides reliable, high-speed connectivity across the hospital, enabling staff to work more efficiently and ensuring patients benefit from improved access to digital healthcare services. With centralised management, enhanced security, and a scalable architecture, the Trust is well positioned to support future innovation while maintaining a secure, high-performing network environment.

Official sign off: December 2025