Final installations of Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership's new and improved Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system for hospitals (A&B Connect) will be completed midsummer, 7 months earlier than planned.
The installations will take place in Mull and Iona Community Hospital, Cowal Community Hospital, Mid Argyll Hospital, Lorn and Islands Hospital and Victoria Hospital.
The successful upgraded telephony service was initially launched in Campbeltown Hospital in February 2023. The innovative model of software was identified as a solution with advanced functionality to improve callers' experience and reduce telephone contract service costs. The IVR system is an automated Call Management System that allows incoming callers to access services via a touch-tone keypad selection of pre-recorded messages.
The telephony system quickly and seamlessly addresses people’s enquiries and reduces hold times. Staff benefit from having more productive hours to complete their daily tasks and the system guarantees that hospital visitors entering and exiting the hospital will be managed more effectively.
Fiona Davies, Chief Officer for Argyll and Bute HSCP, said “Our priority across Argyll and Bute is to continuously improve our technology and services. I am very happy with the positive feedback the new system has received from both staff and patients.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff and IT professionals for their outstanding efforts to support the successful rollout of this innovative system.”
Over the next few months work is taking place to ensure the transition to the new system goes smoothly and without disruption. The telephone numbers for the hospitals remain the same.