NHS Forth Valley: Patients at FVRH complain of poor or no mobile phone signal

Since Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert opened in 2010 there have been complaints from patients, staff and visitors about poor mobile phone reception.

However, NHS Forth Valley, who run the acute hospital, said upgrades have been carried out several times over the last decade.

But people are still reporting that they cannot connect with loved ones when needed.

This week one inpatient contacted The Falkirk Herald to tell of their problem trying to keep in touch with others – and the negative impact it was having on their physical and mental health.

They said: “I am, once again, a patient in FVRH and have been for over a week. My family all live at distance so cannot visit as often as they or I would like. As there is no mobile phone service it is extremely difficult to make arrangements for visits at times to suit the visitors, the needs for treatment and any procedures.

"In this day and age there can be no excuse for not being able to make contact via a mobile phone network.

"This must have been a conscious decision at the planning stage for whatever reason because other new hospitals of the same era have boosters to allow for reasonably effective service.

"I personally have been extremely depressed and frustrated by this situation. Why was this decision made and who was responsible?"

According to Offcom’s mobile and broadband checker there should be good coverage for Three, O2 and Vodafone networks at the hospital but not for EE where there was no signal. Other operators using EE include Your Co-op, 1p Mobile, Utility Warehouse, Ecotalk, Plusnet and BT Mobile.

A spokesperson for NHS Forth Valley said: “Mobile phone and Wifi access has been upgraded on several occasions across Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Mobile phone networks can be accessed from many parts of the hospital and patients with any issues can also make calls on their mobile phone by logging on to the free hospital Wifi system.

"In addition, landline phones with mobile handsets are available in ward areas and emergency department which patients can use to communicate with their families, if required.”