Released On 10th Aug 2017

Two-way radios in healthcare organisations 

Updated November 2024

As all competent mangers are aware, effective communication in hospitals and healthcare facilities goes a long way to support patient care, improve staff safety and ensure site-wide security. 

A suitable two-way radio system – one that involves medical staff, support staff, facilities management teams and other vital key workers – can be a crucial communication tool.

Radios provide instant communication in voice or data to individuals, departments or groups, offering a practical and reliable solution in almost any healthcare environment, from GP surgeries and health centres to hospitals, care homes and mobile health professionals.

What benefits do two-way radios bring to healthcare facilities? 

• Reliable coverage: Two-way radios are an extremely reliable method of communication; when smartphones and Wi-Fi enabled devices may be disabled by dead zones, patchy mobile phone coverage, network overloads and breaks in service, radios continue to provide comprehensive coverage. 
• Effective deployment: Radio systems allow management and key personnel to coordinate and maximise operational efficiency across multiple teams, potentially in multiple buildings, across a wide site. 
• Safety features: Many radios include integrated safety features which help to safeguard staff in certain situations: Lone worker, emergency button, Man Down and GPS location tracking are just a few of the ways radios can enhance the safety of remote or lone workers, especially in large hospital sites.
• Instant communication: Delays with dial-time and ring-time on traditional devices, even smartphones, can significantly undermine urgent communications. Two-way radios instantly relay critical information and updates at the push of a button to an individual or a group channel. This facilitates swift responses to emergencies or organisational needs.
• Cost-effective: There are few ongoing costs with a correctly set up radio system, whether you’re using licence-free walkie-talkies in a smaller, single-site healthcare setting or a wide area network covering a large hospital site.
• Resilient in a tough environment: Healthcare settings are demanding environments, but most professional two-way radios have the ruggedness to withstand drops, spills and sometimes even total immersion in water. Costs for repairs and maintenance are minimal.

Radios for smaller sites: care homes, surgeries and medical centres 

Care homes, GP surgeries and medical centres are often single-site organisations, but effective communication is critical even in these smaller settings. Clinicians, pharmacists, management, reception and cleaning teams may all benefit from a reliable walkie-talkie network.

Sectors in healthcare successfully using radio systems:

• Health centres and care homes
• Hospitals
• Lone workers – mobile health professional and care assistants
• Major incidents
• Security teams and fire safety 
• Estate management and maintenance teams
• Porter services
• Domestic and linen services
• Catering / visitor restaurants
• Pharmacy
• Car parks

Deciding what kind of system you need

Smaller hospitals and healthcare centres might benefit from a simple back-to-back radio system. This is the simplest type, consisting solely of hand-held or vehicle-mounted radios which talk directly to each other without any kind of base-station or repeater.

Back-to-back systems are reliable and easily deployed in any location; their lack of infrastructure means it’s a low-cost solution, but they can have a limited range. With no central control of radio traffic, congestion can also be a problem when many radios are in use at the same time.

Single-site hospitals normally require some infrastructure. They generally have several departments using different types of handsets and call groups. To ensure adequate coverage, single-site hospitals may need repeaters to boost the range.

Large, multi-site hospitals sometimes need to link transmitters together in order to achieve wide-area coverage, or overcome physical barriers such as high-rise buildings. Motorola has a system called IP Site Connect, which uses the internet to extend coverage over dispersed locations – if necessary across different towns or cities.

Large sites may also require varying handset types to suit the different needs of the people using them.  

Site surveys

Every healthcare setting is unique, so RadioTrader always carries out a comprehensive site survey to assess your organisation’s needs and pain points. This is the best way to determine the right equipment and infrastructure for your radio system.

If your hospital already has a radio system…

When did your radios last have a health-check where the general condition of your radios were evaluated? Is it time to look again at your hospital or healthcare centre’s radio infrastructure? 

We provide a service that ensures your radio system is performing to its maximum capability.  We inspect the general health of the radios and we also assess the age and capacity of the batteries.

Technical advances in recent years could also help you to dramatically improve efficiency and safety.

Some simple measures could give you a meaningful upgrade at a very competitive price.

Why choose RadioTrader?

Experience: Having placed several Hytera, Motorola and Icom digital radio systems into hospital environments, RadioTrader has the experience to provide every customer with valuable guidance. We’ll tailor a solution to ensure your whole organisation’s needs are met effectively.

Advanced digital technology: RadioTrader’s solutions boast the most up-to-date technology, with features that enhance coverage throughout your site. The technology is user-friendly, however, to ensure easy adoption and confident use among your teams.

Full support provided: Following an initial site survey to assess your needs, we’ll recommend the most suitable radio solution for a comprehensive communication infrastructure.  A professional installation follows, with training where needed and options for complete ongoing technical support, equipment repair and maintenance. 

Radio hire solutions: For smaller healthcare organisations with simple needs, hiring radio equipment initially is a low-cost way to help you decide whether a permanent radio system would work for you. Our hire equipment is second-to-none, with everything you need to be operational straight out of the box, and the reassurance of RadioTrader’s unrivalled technical support at your back. 

Recommended two-way radios for healthcare

Motorola R2

The Motorola R2 has a lightweight, ergonomic design and a robust, water-resistant build that’s perfect for busy, sometimes challenging working conditions. A high-capacity battery copes impressively with long shifts, while exceptional connectivity and audio quality enhance each and every communication.

View full details of the Motorola R2 digital radio.

Motorola SL2600

The Motorola SL2600 connects discreetly to Bluetooth devices for hands-free communication, ideal for allowing users to move freely and communicate easily. It’s a smart, stylish radio with a virtual keypad display giving easy access to key functions and important information. 

View full details of the Motorola SL2600.

Hytera HP605

With an impressive battery life that can exceed 20 hours, and equally remarkable AI-based noise-cancelling technology to decrease unwanted background noise during calls, the Hytera HP605 is ideal for busy, noisy shifts in all kinds of healthcare organisations.  An improved receiver extends your communication range and provides better connectivity in areas where obstacles would normally detract from coverage.

This radio featured well in our Champions Review when compared to other top radios.

View full details of the Hytera HP605.

Next steps

With many years' experience providing two-way radio systems for hospital and other healthcare environments, RadioTrader can help you implement a completely integrated solution from start to finish, and recommend the best walkie-talkies for your hospital or other healthcare workplace.

Talk to RadioTrader’s knowledgeable team for free and impartial advice.    

Call 0151 676 2888 or email [email protected]

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