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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think my cousin is right to be annoyed

21 replies

AnnoraT · 06/01/2014 21:57

I visited my cousin today in hospital after work; she had an emergency operation over the holidays. She is very bored in hospital. She has a bedside TV which is attached to the wall, but it's not working. As far as I can tell the TV is run by an external operator. There was no number to call on the TV-I looked all over.

I asked a nurse if she could call someone to come fix it, and she said she would try find the number, I had to remind her twice! I know that they are very busy (although they certainly didn't look it...). It wouldn't be an issue if there wasn't a TV provided in the first place, but if there's one there surely it should work? Or there should be someone to call to come fix it? I left and there was still nothing. I appreciate it was after working hours, but they haven't even bothered to try sort it out for tomorrow.

This is a genuine AIBU, I am very tired-busy first day back at work after the holidays, went straight to visit my cousin in hospital after work and came home after to find DS1 playing up. I will admit that I'm not in the best frame of mind. So, AIBU? Should I tell my cousin to read a book instead?!

OP posts:
Catsize · 06/01/2014 22:03

?! YABU.

ISeeYouShiverWithAntici · 06/01/2014 22:05

It wasn't one of those combined tv/telephone/internet things with the card you buy from those machines outside the wards, was it?

CustardOmlet · 06/01/2014 22:05

Were the other tv's working? A lot of hospitals are cancelling contracts with those tv things cause they can't afford it. Find a student nurse or domestic and ask them, they are less likely to be bogged down with meds rounds and doctors.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 06/01/2014 22:07

To be honest even if the nurses did report it, it'll probably take a week before someone from works looks at it. I say this as a nurse.

deste · 06/01/2014 22:08

My DD put £12.00 on my fathers tv when he was in hospital, next day he was moved to a different ward, no refund. That is unreasonable.

ChippingInWadesIn · 06/01/2014 22:09

When my Uncle was in hospital, for several months, he had more 'broken' TV's than working ones. It's frustrating because their existance keeps reminding you what you are missing out on - but then again, buy her a TV guide and she will be reminded of what she isn't missing!!

Tbf - I think the staff are as fed up of them not working as the patients and they really are too short staffed to be chasing the 'bloke' up to fix it.

Does she have internet access? If not can you help her to get some?

I hope she gets to go home soon.

Littlegreyauditor · 06/01/2014 22:17

I asked a nurse if she could call someone to come fix it, and she said she would try find the number, I had to remind her twice! I know that they are very busy (although they certainly didn't look it...)

For that alone YABU. However it seems to me that you are translating stress about your cousin into busyness and looking for an outlet. Find something to break instead (not a nurse or any of your family), have some wine or cake and a few deep breaths. Your cousin will be fine reading or doing crosswords. Realistically a few days of bargain hunt and Jeremy Kyle are likely to delay healing anyway Wink

I hope you are ok OP and that you get some rest.

Topaz25 · 07/01/2014 12:37

Those bedside TVs are a PITA, expensive and always playing up. I know it can be frustrating and isolating being stuck in hospital and it would be nice to have a distraction but the nurses are very busy dealing with very ill people so the TV is necessarily low on their list of priorities. Some hospitals struggle to meet the patients' basic needs.

Pigsmummy · 07/01/2014 12:41

Contact the reception about this do not bother the ward staff.

IneedAsockamnesty · 07/01/2014 12:42

My DD put £12.00 on my fathers tv when he was in hospital, next day he was moved to a different ward, no refund. That is unreasonable

He should have phoned and got the credit transferred to his new bed

YellowTulips · 07/01/2014 12:49

As others have said, those pay TV's are not provided by the NHS, but by a third party. They are also highly expensive.

So whilst I appreciate the frustration, the onus is really on the provider rather than nursing staff to a) provide a number to call in case of a problem b) maintain and repair their equipment.

So I don't think YABU, just you have the wrong target.

My MIL was in hospital recently and we took in one of our iPads loaded with films for her to watch. If you have something like that as an option it's cheaper, easier and better.

Kaluki · 07/01/2014 12:53

My aunt was recently in a nice newly built hospital which had separate rooms and a TV in each room.

The TV didn't work and when she asked someone they told her that none of them did because people kept stealing the freeview boxes and remotes and it was too expensive to replace them.
Sad

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 07/01/2014 12:55

To be honest, when my FIL was in hospital dying with cancer I had to fight with the staff to get him washed etc etc........I would really rather the nurses and staff were dealing with the likes of him rather than faffing round with a tv set.

I can see it's annoying but really your cousin is lucky she isn't at deaths door - tell her to read a book or something, day time tv is crap anyway.

WipsGlitter · 07/01/2014 12:55

Can she not ask to move beds??

IamInvisible · 07/01/2014 13:00

If you pick the phone up there is usually a number for the operator. Ring that and they will send someone.

I presume your cousin does realise she has to pay.

In the main corridors on the ward, or near the main entrance in our hospital, there are pay stations with all the numbers on.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 07/01/2014 13:01

Also, is she mobile enough to go into the day room?

CaptainTripps · 07/01/2014 13:01

It's one of these 'who is accountable?' conundrums.

No one, it seems - except the stupid decision makers who decided to go down this third party flaky route anyhow whenever that was.

YANBU... a small straw that may just break the camel's back.

Custardo · 07/01/2014 13:02

books magazines - borrow a tablet? phone?

LadyBeagleEyes · 07/01/2014 13:06

Lat time I was in hospital one of the patients didn't have a mobile so her only contact was one of these phone/telly/internet things. The nurses did their best to try and get help but after a few days no one had turned up.
She was moved to another bed and transferred her £25 phone credit to there.
It is an external company and so unfair on the nurses having to deal with it, it's not their job.
Their service is appalling.

AmberLeaf · 07/01/2014 13:16

YABU really.

Those TV/internet/phone things are a bit of a rip of too. I bought a credit for one when I was in with my son for the week and either it was a bit crap, or I'm dim, because I didn't have much joy with it.

I wouldn't have complained to the nurses about it though, or expected them to sort it. It's really not their job.

AmberLeaf · 07/01/2014 13:17

*rip off, not rip of!

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