Today I attended the Outpatients Department at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon only to find the self-check-in kiosks covered with “DO NOT USE” notices.
This comes just months after reports celebrating the “re-introduction” of the kiosks across Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board hospitals as a way to reduce queues, improve privacy and modernise patient check-in systems.
According to previous Freedom of Information figures highlighted by AberdareOnline, the original rollout cost taxpayers £287,340 for 17 kiosks and 22 information screens across five hospital sites, with annual maintenance costs of around £21,000.
Patients were told the technology would improve efficiency and reduce pressure on reception staff. But when patients arrive to find machines switched off and unusable, it raises serious questions about reliability, maintenance and whether public money has been well spent.
If the kiosks are not working only four months after their much-publicised return, people are entitled to ask:
- Are these ongoing technical problems?
- How long have the kiosks been out of service?
- How much additional money has been spent removing, refurbishing and reinstalling them?
- Why are patients still queueing at reception despite this expensive technology?
At a time when NHS budgets are stretched and patients face increasing delays, seeing publicly funded equipment sitting unused is understandably frustrating.
Perhaps Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board should explain exactly why these kiosks at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon are currently out of action — and whether this is a temporary fault or part of a wider recurring problem.
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