NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner has told the Newcastle Herald that eHealth NSW, the health IT flagship, will trial Wi-Fi in the John Hunter Children’s Hospital for devices such as smartphones and tablets.

“eHealth NSW will soon kick off a trial project at John Hunter Hospital to implement patient Wi-Fi in the children’s area of the hospital,” Mrs Skinner said.

The Hunter trial follows a two-year, $30 million push to improve the often threadbare Wi-Fi in NSW health centres, including a broadband network the government says will connect more than 150 hospitals and facilities statewide.

Mrs Skinner said her department had invested in “critical infrastructure” to make patient Wi-Fi possible.

“During stays in hospital, many patients can feel cut off from extended family, friends and the outside world,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Wi-Fi access means patients can keep in touch with their nearest and dearest and their parents can stay connected with their workplaces.”

The John Hunter Wi-Fi trial won’t apparently extent to visitors or patients outside of the children’s hospital.

The content available for browsing will be fettered by security filters, though patients in Sydney hospitals have been able to use Skype, stream music and access social media.

The first patient Wi-Fi trial outside of Sydney will be held in Port Macquarie Hospital, and a date has not been disclosed for the John Hunter Hospital trial to begin.

Wallsend Labor MP Sonia Hornery – who has called for better Wi-Fi in Newcastle hospitals – welcomed the trial, but said it should go further.

“I think it’s a great idea but I suggest that the government expand it,” she said. 

“There are a number of people, particularly young adults, who aren’t in the children’s section.”

During a visit to Newcastle last week, NSW Premier Mike Baird pledged $9.8 million to turn Newcastle’s city centre into a “digital precinct” with free public Wi-Fi.