Hywel Dda University Health Board has become the latest Welsh healthcare provider to announce the rollout of a free WiFi service to patients, staff and visitors.
The WiFi, powered by The Cloud, offers a reliable internet connection that allows people to access social media and stream media such as video on their own devices. This is aimed at ultimately improving the patient and visitor experience within some key health board locations.
This latest rollout sees The Cloud expand its expertise and cement itself as the fastest-growing WiFi provider in the Welsh health sector. The Cloud WiFi is a leading provider of public WiFi in the UK, available at over 1,000 locations in Wales alone including three other health boards; Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf.
In healthcare, in particular, mobile devices can be used to improve the patient or visitor experience, allowing people to communicate with friends and family as they recover. Similarly, staff can use tablets to provide great care, viewing X-rays and test results on devices
Anthony Tracey, interim assistant director of Informatics for the board, said: “We want to ensure our patients and visitors have the best access and experience when visiting our hospitals. Choosing The Cloud enables us to do this using modern technology.
“We are concentrating initially on key areas, such as main hospitals. However, further sites will be developed over the next 12 months. In chemotherapy day units and renal units we will also be providing patients with the use of tablets, which they can use while receiving their treatment.”
The health board provides healthcare services to around 375,000 people throughout Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and bordering counties. The WiFi service is being launched at a total of nine locations, including five hospitals - Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest; Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, and South Pembrokeshire Hospital in Pembroke Dock.
The move is part of the board’s efforts to help improve staff operations and modernise the patient and visitor experience through improved communication and access.
To get online at the University Health Board locations, users need to register for a free The Cloud WiFi account. Once registered they can download the FastConnect app to auto-connect next time. This is available for Android or iOS.
“Six in 10 UK adults now use a smartphone and we are only seeing this figure increase, making WiFi a more important resource than ever,” said Roger Matthews, commercial director of The Cloud.
“In healthcare, in particular, mobile devices can be used to improve the patient or visitor experience, allowing people to communicate with friends and family as they recover. Similarly, staff can use tablets to provide great care, viewing X-rays and test results on devices, for example. Mobile is becoming more and more central to healthcare and we’re proud to be helping Hywel Dda respond to that.”