HYWEL Dda University Health Board has become the latest Welsh healthcare provider to roll out 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 stream media, such as movies and music, and access social media and online information on their own devices.

This is aimed at ultimately improving the visitor experience within some key University Health Board locations.

Anthony Tracey, Interim Assistant Director of Informatics for the University Health 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 whilst receiving their treatment wherever possible.”

The University 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 University Health 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, sign up for a free Cloud Account or download the FastConnect app if you have an Android or iOS device.

This latest rollout sees The Cloud expand its expertise in the healthcare sector and cement itself as the fastest growing WiFi provider in the Welsh health sector.

“Six in ten UK adults[1] now use a smartphone and we are only seeing this figure increase, making WiFi a more important resource than ever,” says 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.”