Patients' notes go wireless in hospital's wi-fi scheme

DOCTORS in a Lothians hospital have become the first in Scotland to access patient notes using a wi-fi system.

Medical staff at St John's Hospital in Livingston can now save time and access details of people instantly, while at their bedsides.

Every ward is set to benefit from the device, which could soon be rolled out to hospitals across the region.

Martin Egan, director of eHealth at NHS Lothian, said: "Wireless technology is an innovative way of giving clinicians instant access to medical notes and I'm delighted that NHS Lothian is the first in Scotland to be using wi-fi in this way.

"The technology has freed up more time for clinicians to spend with patients, and enables them to have the information they need at their fingertips."

No data is stored permanently on the handheld computers which connect to the main system, allaying fears of more data loss and privacy issues.