The NHS in Devon is offering free SIM cards to people unable to afford mobile phone contracts as part of an initiative to tackle digital exclusion.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said it had partnered with the charity Good Things Foundation to offer low-income families pre-paid SIM cards to help get them online.
The trust said it would provide the pre-loaded SIMs to anyone over the age of 18 from a low-income household with either no or insufficient access to the internet at home or cannot afford their existing monthly mobile contract or top-up.
Helen Davies-Cox, from the trust said: "We have some of the most deprived communities in the country and want to do more to help people who are struggling financially by giving them free data to get online without having to worry about money."
The NHS said the SIMS provide a "lifeline" for people who may otherwise struggle to manage their online appointments and stay connected with friends and family.
