Increasing bandwidth for patients using WiFi

WiFi SPARK works with NHS Trusts to increase available WiFi speeds to patients amidst COVID-19.

In the new world in which we are living we are seeing many adjustments to everyday and working lives, and our services are no different. We are using more water, more electric and gas now that we are staying indoors, as well as more NHS internet bandwidth.

As with any shared service, measures are put in place to ensure that everyone has a fair share. For example when using WiFi in a public space, there are limitations to your bandwidth to stop individuals from consuming all the available bandwidth.

WiFi SPARK works with over half of the NHS Trusts and Health Boards in the UK and has experience in large scale, high density networks from its 16 years in the business. As the NHS’s most respected WiFi provider, we have built a reputation on looking after our customers and their patients, visitors and staff.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, more and more people are unfortunately using our National Healthcare Service and we are seeing wards full of patients and new hospitals called Nightingale Hospitals have been created in order to meet the demand. These patients are using the hospital WiFi to keep spirits lifted, entertain themselves and check in with family. To cope with this increased demand, we have worked with a number of hospitals such as Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to increase the bandwidth available per device in the Trust.

This gives patients the freedom to do what they need to do whilst in hospital without the worry of being unable to load content quickly.

Another service we have facilitated to the NHS is a video calling solution with tablet devices for patients to see their friends and family over the WiFi. Read more about the solution in Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Other services we have offered to the NHS include SPARK® Media Print, enabling staff and patients to read newspapers and magazines totally free, on their own device. Read the blog here.

With the NHS under increasing amounts of pressure, the team at WiFi SPARK is pleased to be able to help with the response.