5G Router for Healthcare and Clinical Connectivity

5G Connectivity for Healthcare Settings and Clinical Practices

Healthcare settings – GP surgeries, dental practices, community clinics, and care homes – are entirely dependent on their internet connection. Clinical systems (EMIS Web, SystmOne, Dentally), NHS Spine connectivity, e-prescribing, and digital imaging all run over IP. A broadband outage in a healthcare setting can force the cancellation of appointments and the reversion to paper-based working – at significant clinical and administrative cost.

SimWise supplies 5G routers and SIM cards for healthcare settings needing either primary connectivity in underserved areas or resilient backup for existing fixed broadband connections.

Backup Connectivity for GP Surgeries and Dental Practices

A 5G router configured as a WAN failover device is the most common 5G application in healthcare settings. When the primary fixed broadband connection fails, the 5G router activates automatically and maintains internet connectivity for clinical systems. The router monitors the fixed line continuously and switches back to fibre when service is restored.

The cost of a day's disruption to a busy GP surgery – cancelled appointments, staff time, and the cost of emergency repairs – significantly exceeds the annual cost of a 5G router and SIM card as a backup device.

Remote and Community Health Settings

GP branch surgeries, community health hubs, and outreach clinics in rural locations may not have access to fast fixed broadband. 5G as primary connectivity, with an external antenna where required, can deliver the bandwidth needed for clinical system access and telehealth video consultations.

Patient Wi-Fi

Patient waiting areas benefit from Wi-Fi access. A 5G router on a separate network segment provides patient-facing Wi-Fi that is isolated from clinical systems, satisfying both the connectivity requirement and the network security requirement that clinical and patient networks remain separate.

External Antennas: Do You Need One?

Every 4G and 5G router ships with stub antennas attached to the ports on the casing. In many installations these are perfectly adequate. In others – particularly inside metal-framed buildings, below ground level, or in rural areas far from the nearest mast – an external antenna can make a significant and measurable difference to both signal quality and sustained throughput.

Before purchasing an external antenna, we recommend working through a structured test process:

1. Baseline test with supplied antennas in the intended location. Install the router where it will live in normal operation. Note the RSRP value from the router diagnostic page – this is a more reliable indicator than signal bars. Run a speed test and record the results.
2. Try different positions within the same space. Cellular signal varies considerably within a single room. A window-mounted location can outperform a cabinet in the centre of the same space by 10-15 dB. Try several positions before concluding signal is poor.
3. Test outdoors on a dry day. Take the router outside – clear of the building envelope – and run the same tests. Building fabric, particularly reinforced concrete, metal cladding, and low-emissivity glass, can attenuate signal by 20 dB or more. If outdoor results are substantially better, an externally-mounted antenna is the right solution.
4. Test each network in turn. If you have a multi-network IoT SIM, lock the router to each available network and test each one. Coverage and performance vary significantly by network at any given location. EE frequently outperforms in rural areas; Three tends to be strongest in urban environments.
5. Consider a directional antenna if signal is marginal. An omni-directional antenna captures signal from all directions but lacks gain. If you know the direction of the nearest mast, a directional or panel antenna aimed at the mast can provide 5-9 dBi additional gain over a standard stub – the equivalent of moving the router significantly closer to the mast.

Get a Quote for Healthcare 5G Connectivity

Tell us about your setting – type of practice, number of clinical workstations, and current connectivity situation. We will recommend the right 5G router and SIM, and advise on whether it should be used as primary or backup connectivity.