Heartbeat: Free NHS Wi-Fi service helping connect the disconnected

November 4, 2019

There’s something in the air – it’s new and it’s free!

The days of people desperately waving their phones at the nearest window are now at an end thanks to the introduction of free Wi-Fi across our Trust. The new service launched recently thanks to a grant from NHS Digital and is available across our organisation, bringing free wireless internet access to patients, visitors and colleagues on our site.

The Wi-Fi service launched recently following in the footsteps of Unity and has already begun to have a positive impact on patients, letting those in our wards reconnect with their family, friends and loved ones whilst they rest and recuperate without the worry of running up bills on their mobile phones.

Welcoming the new service to the Trust, Heartbeat spoke to Chief Informatics Officer, Martin Sadler. He said, “We introduced free NHS Wi-Fi service so that patients, visitors, students and colleagues can access the internet when they need to from their own devices, helping them to stay connected.”

“All you need to do is connect to NHS Wi-Fi on your device, accept the terms and conditions and you’ll be connected to the internet, without the need to register or enter any passwords. Like all public Wi-Fi services we encourage you to use it appropriately and only use it for things that you would be happy for other people to know about.”