Fit for hospital

Internet access is vital for many things in modern life including communication. Hospitals should be providing internet access but there are some good things to know about what is available.

Internet access may be slower than you have at home

While internet access is available in over 8,000 NHS locations it is not the same as you have at home.

The internet connection is potentially shared between the thousands of other patients and visitors at the location so it may not be as fast as you’re used to at home. Many people find it is good enough to stream music and television but it might not be so at all times of the day.

Internet access may be limited

Understandably, the NHS doesn’t want to provide access to the entire Internet without any content or service controls. This means that you may find some sites that you visit, particularly those that may be addictive or harmful are blocked. It’s also common that hacking websites are blocked althoug if you’re interested in this take it as an exercise in avoiding the controls.

I have found that VPNs are not normally blocked but this can vary per network - unfortunately you’ll just have to try and see.

If you rely on your mobile for internet access, your battery won’t last as long

While the Internet access can be slower than you’re used to or not quite as reliable, you probably have a device that doesn’t need wi-fi to get on the internet. Your smartphone can of course use the mobile network to get on the internet. If you’re going to do this there are two important things to remember:

1. Your phone battery will not last as long so you may need a powerbank or to keep it plugged in to the wall so that you don’t find yourself without power.
2. Depending on your network and allowance you may quickly run out of data and become restricted. Even an “unlimited” contract comes with acceptable use limits which you may go over if you’re streaming content for many hours a day.

How to get the most out of the internet connection

If you’re a fan of watching films or tv on your device, it’s worthwile downloading the content rather than streaming it. This means an unstable connection won’t result in you waiting for a punchline as the show is already on your device.

With most apps you can download shows in the background so you don’t need to keep the app open and shows will be downloaded at a reasonable speed for the connection that is available.

Use the Internet respectfully

The Internet is wonderful, but everyone uses it differently. Remember to be respectful of others around you who are also ill. Where possible use headphones so that others can enjoy using the Internet in the way that they want to.

Remember that there are activities not on your device

Particularly if you’re in hospital for an extended time, remember that there is plenty to do that isn’t on a screen. The hospital staff would love to interact with you rather than the top of your head as you look down at your iPad. Books can transport you out of the hospital setting and puzzle books can keep you occupied and engaged.