Patients at Warwick Hospital encouraged to bring in laptops - The Leamington Observer

Patients at Warwick Hospital encouraged to bring in laptops

Leamington Editorial 24th Apr, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

PATIENTS at Warwick Hospital are being urged to bring in laptops and tablets to keep themselves amused.

All 486 beds at the hospital – run by South Warwickshire Foundation Trust (SWFT) – were previously fitted with TV and phone sets by suppliers Premier Telecom Contracts.

But when half of the systems stopped working hospital chiefs decided to terminate their contract six years early and the sets were removed.

They now hope patients will bring their own devices to watch programmes online via wi-fi and to keep in contact with loved ones.




The Lakin Road hospital is in the process of having lockers fitted on all wards so patients can safely store electronic devices.

Other SWFT run hospitals in hospitals Leamington, Stratford and Shipston have not been affected by the contract termination as they do not use the same system.


Some patients complained last year about the lack of a TV during their stay.

A Warwick Hospital patient, who did not wish to be named, told us: “Without the television to watch it can be a really long day.

“Some people, particularly older ones, don’t have mobile phones or laptops to watch television on so you can end up sitting around for hours not doing anything.”

Hospital chiefs have not ruled out fitting patient TVs in future and say they are exploring the best and most cost-effective options.

They have also installed a portable phone for patients to use by their bedsides if they do not have a mobile.

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