Hard on the heels of the devastating floods over North West Queensland, the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) have fast tracked Queensland Health’s free Wi-Fi service to its remote facilities. The NWHHS Chief Information Officer, Helen Murray, said the service was free to patients, their families and carers, visitors and staff and would enable people to stay connected to their families and properties. “We now have free Wi-Fi at Primary Health Care Clinics in Karumba, Burketown, Camooweal and Dajarra, and at our hospitals in Normanton, Julia Creek and Cloncurry, as well as at the Mount Isa Homeless Health Outreach Team and at Mount Isa Hospital. “Having a 24 hour, cost free internet service available will provide staff with enhanced digital connectivity and improve patient and visitor convenience within and near our facilities,” Ms Murray said. Hannah Dawes, Director of Nursing at Karumba Primary Health Clinic, where free Wi-Fi is now operating, said the general feeling from the public is that it’s a good idea. “It’s also useful for visiting Allied health staff, who are using it for patient documentation. They can access their Gidgee Healing sites remotely instead of having to go back to the office to document and then fax their notes to us. “They can now email their notes, or print them off here for us to upload straight into our database,” Ms Dawes said. Posters are at all the health facilities where free Wi-Fi is available, advising patients and visitors how to log onto the free service. READ ALSO: Morning Melodies is back in March featuring Nicki Gillis While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox 6am every Friday.