"Internet access for patients at the Wells Road Centre"

Posted by Advocacy for Thurland Ward patients

Almost 2 years ago the following post was put on the Patient Opinion website;

"It concerns me greatly that the patients can't have access to the internet...even though this would be completely supervised, risk assessed and monitored by staff locally. For recovery, education, entertainment and developing life skills, I find it astounding that in this modern age we as a service are unable to facilitate this. "

The response dated 9/3/12 indicated that managers of the unit supported the idea of having safe internet access use for patients. It also indicated that the IT department saw this as a priority and a decision would be made "soon".

2 years later the patients on this ward have been advised that internet access for them will not be available in the forseeable future. The patients on Thurland ward wish to express their unhappiness about this decision and cannot understand why it is proving so difficult to facilitate at least some internet access facility for patients within the Wells Road. We believe some internet access is provided within other hospitals withinin Nottinghamshire, even those with higher levels of security. The internet is so much part of modern life that without some access to it the patients are missing out on an important element in their road to recovery.

We would like to know why it has been decided we cannot have access to the internet when staff and management here have indicated that they support "safe internet access use for patients. "