To think £7.90 per day for TV in hospital is ridiculous

UltimateWednesday · 2020-07-07T16:39:28+00:00

How do they justify this? What "costs" does it cover? Just for freeview TV, no WiFI or cable channels.

IHaveBrilloHair · 07/07/2020 17:44

Ouch.
I'm in hospital a fair bit and not only does it have all en suite private rooms, it has free WI-FI and TV with free view and games on it.

lifesalongsong · 07/07/2020 17:46

It's a service, a very expensive one, but the provider doesn't need to justify it. Complain to the hospital and see if they might change to a cheaper option.

Itsjustabitofbanter · 07/07/2020 17:46

Of course it’s unfair, but pretty standard in my local hospitals. I thought it was pretty disgusting though when my child spent two weeks in there with lung issues. He was completely bed ridden and the only thing he could do was watch telly so of course I had to pay. And don’t me started on the prices of food/drinks. What a terrible way to make money out of people

Purpleartichoke · 07/07/2020 17:48

Especially since things like television have actually been shown to reduce pain and speed recovery time. Distraction isn’t just about combating boredom.

Laiste · 07/07/2020 17:49

And then when you bite the bullet and go to set it up you find yours is The One Which Doesn't Work and are stuck listening to everyone else's TV choices all day and every evening

Honeyroar · 07/07/2020 17:50

I think it’s disgusting. My husband was in for weeks last year and the previous year. It would’ve cost a fortune. Ironically when he was in intensive care it was free there. Most of the ward were unconscious!! Parking was free for visitors in intensive care too.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/07/2020 17:53

Not as many people probably subscribe what with iPads and subscription services. If I knew I was going into hospital I would download before going in.

iwillnevereatspaghetti · 07/07/2020 17:53

Isn't it free during the day? I was in hospital for 10 days in March and I think I only paid because I wanted to watch it all night. But even so, utterly ridiculously expensive. I guess they are not making money from the phone calls these days.

Witchend · 07/07/2020 17:55

When ds was in recently, yes, that was the price for 1 day, but 3 days was about £10, and they said contact them if you expect to be in longer for their special prices. That gave him access to various channels and several films, and they provided him with free headphones. He was a very happy bunny there.

While he was in a private room (waiting covid results) the TV was free but he didn't get the films.

Feedingthebirds1 · 07/07/2020 17:57

Unless they're going to make earphones mandatory, I'd support £50 a day. TVs on different channels all blaring out is not conducive to an easy recovery.

I do get that for some people it's relaxing and something to do when there isn't much else, but the noise!

PS I'd prefer the headphones option rather than the £50 in case anyone's wondering.

MamaDane · 07/07/2020 18:03

Yikes. I was admitted to a hospital for 5 weeks but never once paid for anything. Not medicine, tv, food (except snacks we got at a 7/11), Wi-Fi, treatment or whatever. That really sucks. YANBU

HappyHammy · 07/07/2020 18:06

Thats a lot. Is it for 24hrs or runs out at midnight. Is it cheaper to get a 3 day package. Some hospitals dont charge for daytime tv and some patients are exempt. Cheaper just to listen to the radio or use your phone.

ClashCityRocker · 07/07/2020 18:06

Ours is £20 for five days. Gets expensive if you're in for a long haul as my DM was last year. I think we were up to £200 by the time she was discharged.

In hindsight, a tablet with unlimited data may well have worked out more cost effective, but to be honest it was the least of our worries at the time so we paid it - it would have made her time in their even more miserable if we hadn't.

ClashCityRocker · 07/07/2020 18:08

Their? There.

Although tbf I think she'd struggle with a tablet.

lyralalala · 07/07/2020 18:08

@iwillnevereatspaghetti

Isn't it free during the day? I was in hospital for 10 days in March and I think I only paid because I wanted to watch it all night. But even so, utterly ridiculously expensive. I guess they are not making money from the phone calls these days.

Assuming it's with hospedia it's free from 8am to noon. Radio is free all day. Kids get free tv from 7am to 7pm

One of the hospitals near here got so fed up with complaints about it they just removed the tvs completely. There's old-style tv lounge if you can get to it on each ward, but on the maternity wards you are not allowed to take the baby to the day lounge, but also not allowed to leave them on the ward. So basically no tv or radio for people. Fine if you are in for one night, but a friend of mine was in for two weeks after a horrible birth and couldn't get to the day lounge easily, plus her baby was in NICU so nights were tough alone in her bed.

No wifi either so even using the iPad wasn't always easy as it had to be taken away to have stuff loaded onto it.

Fatted · 07/07/2020 18:09

Surely in most people could use their phone? Which pushes the price up for those who do still use it. With these things, certain patients will also get it free, so the price is to sibsidise them.

ZaraW · 07/07/2020 18:10

I was in hospital last year. I downloaded what I wanted to watch at home and just bought my laptop with me.

CarlottaValdez · 07/07/2020 18:13

When I was in for a week the WiFi was decent so I could stream on my iPad ok. That does seem a high cost though, I wonder what they make on it a year.

Bacciferous · 07/07/2020 18:16

It's disgusting. We spent a fortune when my dad was in hospital. Would it be worth getting a wifi dongle with a tablet?

originalusernamefail · 07/07/2020 18:17

It's a private company, which sets the price not the hospitals. They know they have a captive audience and price accordingly. The hospital I work at provides free WiFi for patients so people can use tablets instead. They were looking at the bedside systems but apparently they get ragged off the walls at an alarming rate so didn't bother (not sure if repair costs are passed on in the day-to-day price).

Ellmau · 07/07/2020 18:18

Surely in most people could use their phone?

What about charging?

Original poster

UltimateWednesday · 07/07/2020 18:22

No you can't use your phone if you're admitted unexpectedly without a charger and/or you don't have unlimited data.

Yes, he would have taken a tablet with films ready downloaded if he hadn't been admitted as an emergency. And I would have taken him one if I was allowed in!

OP posts:

OllyBJolly · 07/07/2020 18:25

I think it's disgraceful. DSis was in and out of hospital and spent a fortune. The private company pays the hospital for the access to patients. If you want anything other than standard then you have to call a callcentre who give you the hard sell to upgrade. DSis had cognitive impairment (brain tumour/chemo/radiotherapy) and really didn't have the capacity to manage that kind of call. I managed to get a refund but what happens to patients who don't have anyone that can monitor expenditure and fight their corner?

What I also discovered was that the provider sets different "tariffs" for different areas and Aberdeen is one of the most expensive. It's outrageous. If I'd had more energy at the time I'd have complained more loudly.

(Valuables such as tablets etc were discouraged and you had to sign up and pay for wifi. Signal wasn't great for mobiles. She would have lost/dropped it anyway)

feelingverylazytoday · 07/07/2020 18:26

In the 'olden days' they used to put a portable telly in some of the bays or people that were well enough used to get up and go to the day room to watch TV . All for free, but only 4 channels of course.

WaxOnFeckOff · 07/07/2020 18:26

My mum was in hospital (Edinburgh RI) for around 6 months, died the same week we got her into a care home . The TV charge was at least that. She rarely had the TV as she wasn't always able or interested in watching it and there was no point us paying for it for her not to watch it.