Exeter-based Spark TSL, which provides entertainment and information services to hospital staff and patients, has appointed David Hawkins as sales director.

Spark TSL is a provider of Wi-Fi to retail outlets, transport and conference venues, but has developed a specialisation in healthcare since it started working with a large London trust in 2005. 

Hawkins, who previously worked at one of Spark TSL’s partners, said: “Spark TSL is a different kind of company. It is a telecoms provider that has moved into software that can be used at the hospital bedside to deliver services that improve efficiency and outcomes. 

“The Darzi review has shown that the NHS is still in the foothills of digital transformation and there are enormous gains to be made by adopting the deeper-dive transformation that Spark Fusion [the company’s product] makes possible. I am looking forward to supporting Spark Fusion customers as they go on that journey, for the benefit of their staff and patients.” 

In 2020, Spark TSL became part of the Volaris Group, which acquired legacy bedside unit provider Hospedia the following year. In April this year, Spark TSL acquired Sentean Group, a Dutch company with a digital platform that enables apps to be deployed at the bedside on managed or bring-your-own devices.