WiFi SPARK provides a hotline to Santa

Children at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff have been given a wonderful Christmas surprise - a personal chat with Santa over WiFi.

The youngsters, who are facing Christmas in hospital, were given the VIP treatment using tablet computers and the hospital’s free WiFi which is run by WiFi SPARK.

Along with the hospital’s IT team, Oliver Malkin and Tracy Scriven from WiFi SPARK, which is based in Exeter, dressed up as elves to get the special *Cisco Santa mission underway.

Sarah Lloyd, Deputy Directorate Head of Operations and Delivery at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, said: “It can be hard at Christmastime for young patients in hospitals as they don’t always get the opportunity to visit Santa and take in traditional festival activities. Being able to see and talk to Santa over WiFi helps to make Christmas more magical for those in our care.”

The Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales is based on the site of the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. It provides health care for the children of Cardiff and the Vale and across Wales.

WiFi SPARK provides free, easy, reliable internet throughout Noah’s Ark and the University Hospital of Wales for patients and visitors. The children’s ward has a special portal which features useful links for children’s entertainment, to help make their stay in hospital as pleasant as possible. The portal also filters content so it’s safe for children to use.

Oliver Malkin from WiFi SPARK said: “Seeing Santa on tablets live from Lapland and being able to talk to him was a really wonderful treat for the children. I just about remember many years ago having to write a letter to Santa when I was a child – technology has certainly turned things around! Our system ensured that the connection was fast and clear, so they could have plenty of time to chat to him.”

WiFi SPARK has tripled its market share in the healthcare public WiFi sector over the last year against stiff competition from larger companies. The business provides easy, speedy WiFi for  hospitals around England and Wales including Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, and Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, as well as a range of other sectors and businesses including The NEC Birmingham , London City Airport and Plymouth University.