Free Wi-Fi at Christchurch Hospital

Christchurch Hospital is offering free access to its Wi-Fi to patients and visitors with a six month trial.

The service is provided in conjunction with local telecommunications provider Snap, who have been providing CDHB with a range of services for over four years. It will be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

David Meates, Canterbury DHB chief executive, says it is great to be able to offer people coming to the hospital access to free Wi-Fi.

“Nearly 4,000 people come through the doors of Christchurch Hospital each day. Patients can feel cut off from their normal lives while in hospital. Now we can help reconnect them to the outside world while they are with us,” says Mr Meates.

The step forward is particularly welcomed given the redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital and the need to ‘future proof’ facilities.

“More and more patients and visitors bring their own device with them and now they can use them free of charge while they are in our care,” Mr Meates says.

Mark Petrie, chief executive of Snap is as equally excited about the initiative.

“As people live more of their lives online, we are delighted to be supporting a service that allows patients and visitors to remain connected to friends and family, keeping their independence while in hospital,” Mr Petrie says.

The service can be accessed from many Canterbury DHB sites including Christchurch Hospital and some parts of Burwood and Hillmorton hospitals as part of a six month trial.

Other sites, such as The Princess Margaret Hospital will not have the service due to technical capabilities. Ashburton Hospital may provide the service following the six month trial.

The service will be evaluated with a survey and diagnostic analysis following the trial.