Give A&E patients Wi-fi access

Patients waiting in Accident and Emergency should have Wi-fi access, top doctors have said. This would let them browse the internet on phones, tablets and laptops during waits for treatment.

It’s a recommendation made by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) in a new report setting out standards in patient care.

It has drawn up a 50-point checklist ( www.snipca. com/25171) to help improve the patient “experience”. As well as Wi-fi the list includes a TV and reading material.

The RCEM calls these forms of entertainment “developmental”, which means they should be considered on top of the “fundamental” care that all hospitals must offer.

One of the fundamental points in the checklist is telling patients whether they can use phones, and, if so, providing a bank of chargers.

The checklist covers all aspects of emergency care, including privacy during treatment and a daily trolley offering food and drink.

Internet access could soon become commonplace across the NHS. In July NHS Digital said that all GP surgeries in England will have free Wi-fi by the end of 2017.

Patients will be able to connect via an NHS.UK landing page, which will show healthcare information.

NHS Digital’s aim is to offer Wi-fi at all hospitals and clinics by December 2018. Would you like Wi-fi in A&E? Please let us know: letters@