It depends on the hospital. In many you will have to buy WiFi access, you do in Wellington. You may be better off using mobile data unless you're there for a long time.

Is there a security risk to using public wi-fi?

Can nefarious people set up logging tools, or even act as "man-in-the-middle" websites?

Should I worry about these, or should I just browse the web and read my email as I would at home?

Kind of off topic, but I've wondered about setting up a geekzone guest wifi network. I'm perfectly happy to share some of my (unlimited) pie on the off chance another GZ'er comes wandering down the street. I think (!?) if everyone set up the same SSID and password (e.g. geekzone/freitasm), phones would happily connect whenever anyone was in range. I've periodically had an open guest wifi network available, but you need to know to look for it or have that (annoying IMHO) "connect to open wifi networks" prompt enabled.

But given the rate at which mobile data allowances are increasing, I'm not sure it would be used anyway.

Bananabob:

 

Is there a security risk to using public wi-fi?

 

Can nefarious people set up logging tools, or even act as "man-in-the-middle" websites?

 

Should I worry about these, or should I just browse the web and read my email as I would at home?

 

Extremely risky. If your mail doesnt use TLS then someone could grab the password as its sent over the air, cookies from non SSL websites also can be grabbed and re-used.

Then there is the problems of connecting to someone doing man in the middle screwing things up, you may find unsolicited .apk files downloaded if they see that you are on android, can replace what you request with any number of things that are exploitable. You would be amazed at the number of people that will see a .js or .vbs file download and then decide that they will open it.

Chances are higher at places with higher value targets like airports or convention centers but anyone who is bored can just buy a wifi pineapple and start being a dick with it, anywhere.

turb: In most places it will connect automatically, giving you an hour free each time

Visitors to Wellington Hospital can now access WiFi. Tokens can be bought at the hospital shop in the atrium

The network is currently accessible anywhere in the Main Hospital, Grace Neill building, Childrens Hospital and Emergency Department.

$3.00 for 1 hour of internet over a 24 hour period
$6.00 for 4 hours of internet over a 24 hour period
$10.00 for 8 hours of internet over a 7 day period
$35.00 for 48 hours of internet over a 7 day period
NB The token will expire 28 days after the creation date (not the purchase date) which is printed on the bottom of the token.
Once in use the token will not expire until it is fully used.

I checked with Braemar Hamilton and it is free to patients so all I have to do now is find a free phone app

I am having problems with 'messenger' each time I try to send from mobile it wants me to set messenger as default sms app and will not send at all, if I do install would it be better than installed "messages" or will it clash?