Broadband access issue for residents of Mayo hospital being addressed

The HSE is working on the issue of broadband access at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar.

Councillor Martin McLoughlin said the facility is state-of-the-art and people are delighted to have it in the town.

However, there was an issue with the poor quality of broadband to patients and staff.

"It's particularly a problem for patients there now they cannot have visitors. They are away on their own from families and they need broadband to connect to family and loved ones.

“They need it for their mental and physical health,” he explained.

Breda Crehan-Roche, chief officer, Community Healthcare West, said that the service had been improved.

"Two WiFi routers were installed in mid-2020, one in each of the sitting rooms of the Carra and Ross units, and are available for residents to use at any time, other than where measures are required to prevent Covid-19 infection.

“There are also window visits. We are trying everything we can and IT is something we are always trying to improve; so WiFi is there for residents and staff. "

She added: "You are quite right, people need access to their loved ones and the outside world and it is something we are constantly working on."