South West Communications Group has scooped the Communications Provider of the Year 2010 award at the Federation of Communication Services annual industry awards in London.

FCS is the trade association for the communication services sector representing companies delivering products and services by means of radio, mobile, fixed and IP telephony.

South West Communications Group beat off competition from three other communications providers to win the award after it entered its innovative, multi-faceted solution it is currently rolling out for North Bristol NHS Trust, the fifth largest healthcare trust in the UK, for consideration by FCS's panel of judges.

The solution includes a new 7,000-user telephone system for the Trust's two hospitals, Southmead and Frenchay, which incorporates a range of sophisticated applications including an interactive speech directory so patients can speak the name of the person they want to contact to be automatically put through, automatic appointment reminders, an alarm management system for potentially life-saving equipment, lone worker alarms, waiting room pagers and video conferencing.

This work will continue over the coming years as the Trust builds its new technology-led hospital with the solution ultimately serving up to 9,000 members of staff across 200 sites, including community bases. It is part of the Trust's continued drive to embrace technology in order to make the healthcare experience easier, safer and more efficient for patients and staff.

South West Communications Group's Managing Director Harry Langley, who received the award from Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Commercial Director of award sponsor Openreach, said: "This is the first time we have won an award from the Federation of Communication Services and we are delighted our project at North Bristol NHS Trust caught the judges' attention."