Free guest Wi-Fi at Southend University Hospital
20 July 2014
Health Care
Patients, visitors and guests coming to Southend University Hospital will be able to access free wireless internet in selected areas across the main Prittlewell Chase site from Monday 28 July.
The new service, which has been developed in-house by the
trust's IT department, is completely free of charge and available
to anyone with a compatible wireless-enabled laptop or mobile
device.
Patients, visitors and guests will be able to check their
emails, surf the internet or keep up to date with social media in
selected areas of the hospital including the waiting areas in main
outpatients, Education Centre, Spice of Life restaurant and the
newly-opened Macmillan Information and Support Centre.
Signage will be in place to clearly identify hotspots where
users can connect to the new wireless network, agree to the terms
of use and start browsing quickly and easily with just a couple of
clicks.
Head of IT, Alan Tuckwood said: "More and more people are using
technology such as smart phones and tablets and we want to give our
patients, visitors and guests the flexibility to use their devices
while they are visiting the hospital.
"We already have a wireless network in place that allows our
clinical staff to securely access information such as x-rays or
scan results from mobile devices at the patients' bedside.
"I am delighted that we have been able to build on this existing
investment to provide a benefit to our patients, visitors and
guests."
Plans are in place to make the new wireless network available in
other areas of the hospital, including wards and other clinical
treatment areas, over the coming months.