The State Government is seeking expert advice on how to fix 4G reception in new Royal Hobart Hospital wing

Mobile phone blackspots are plaguing the new $689 million Royal Hobart Hospital wing, with medical staff unable to call each other in the state-of-the-art building. READ the internal email about the issue >>

Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture Chris Kidd

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MEDICAL staff working in Hobart’s $689 million new hospital building are struggling to communicate with one another and with staff in other parts of the hospital due to mobile black spots.

The nurses’ union says there are black spots throughout the 10-storey K-Block and has called on the state government to find a permanent solution.

The government admits there are reception problems in “some areas” and is seeking expert advice on how to fix them.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian secretary Emily Shepherd said the lack of reception had been frustrating members at the hospital.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd says there are issues throughout the building and nurses are getting frustrated. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“Our reps are saying there are reception issues throughout the building,” she said.

“We are hopeful they are working towards a long-term solution to the reception issues in K-Block.”

Ms Shepherd said personal smartphones were the chief mode of communication between staff.

“Particularly medical staff and allied health they are moving around the hospital they need to have mobile communications to be readily available,” she said.

The Mercury has seen an email sent to staff regarding mobile phone coverage issues in K-Block.

The email said an interim solution had been found for the lack of 4G coverage for a key medical supervisor’s mobile phone that was routinely used in K-Block, saying the phone would “generally work” on wifi.

“Please call a second time if you have no response. We await the upgrade of the paging system on the fourth floor and resolution of the mobile phone 4G issues,” the email read.

A spokesman for the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment said expert advice was being sought on how to improve reception.

One of the new operating rooms in K Block at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“A mobile coverage survey was undertaken as part of the K-Block construction which identified some areas which did not have optimal coverage, which is normal for the commissioning of large buildings,” the spokesman said

“Accordingly, the redevelopment project is getting expert advice on possible solutions to deliver the required coverage. In order to assist clinical workflow, wifi handsets have being implemented to assist medical professionals.”

The state government hurriedly took control of K-Block in mid-March in a bid to cater for any surge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time Health Minister Sarah Courtney said issues with the building including lead detected in the water and airconditioner noise had not been fully resolved.

Ms Courtney said outstanding issues would be addressed during operational commissioning.