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AIBU?

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Original poster

To complain to hospital about this?

69 replies

kayla12345 · 15/02/2024 19:05

Back story - family member has been in hospital due to stroke for 6 weeks, on a rehab ward and length of stay estimated to be another 3 months.

3 weeks ago they contracted an infection which means they are isolated on a side room. Rooms nice but the tv doesn't work (aerial), they've been in this room for 3 weeks with no working tv and due to the infection will need to stay in the side room Until discharge.

I've complained about the tv not working. Visiting hours are limited and relative is sat in silence alone for the majority of the day!

I've tried to speak to matron on several occasions but never on when I'm visiting, left messages and no one has called me back.

Asked tonight to speak to the nurse in charge who made me feel awful for asking for a working tv, advising I've been told a new TVs ok order and there's nothing she can do. I've explained multiple times jts not the tv it's the aerial as the tv works just gets no signal.

Aibu to expect a working tv or a radio in the room as a minimum? Not bothered about having to pay for it but it's frustrating relative is alone for so much time and sat in silence.

Prisoners have better conditions.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 15/02/2024 19:10

If they supply a TV it should work. But I guess if they have no other one to swap it with then there's nothing they can do. Could you buy your relative a cheap tablet to watch telly on? The hospital my DH is in has no tellies at all. The one I was in had them but you had to pay after 12pm something like a tenner a day!
So yeah, it's annoying not to have one for sure. But the NHS is dying.

PinkPrawns2 · 15/02/2024 19:11

The TV's in our hospital were installed by a separate company so aren't actually hospital property, so if it's the same set up the nurse is right and they can't do anything but wait for the company to sort it out. It's really rubbish for your relative. Is there any way you could leave a tablet with them so they can watch things via WiFi (assume hospital has some patient WiFi)

Froggy99 · 15/02/2024 19:15

Could you take a radio in for them? Or an iPad with downloaded content?

Original poster
kayla12345 · 15/02/2024 19:23

I'm not allowed to take anything In as it won't be PAT tested. Offered to get it tested myself but they won't let me

I don't think they could use an iPad - they're elderly and not tech savvy. Plus I'd have to take it home to charge.

No portable TVs.

I just think as a minimum they should be trying to repair the aerial or provide a tv with smart function. I've offered to buy a tv myself but again not allowed 😩

My relative is really fed up, it's beginning to have a detrimental effect on her mental health

OP posts:
ohtowinthelottery · 15/02/2024 19:23

The adult ward my DD was on at our main hospital didn't have TVs at all - not in the bays or the side rooms. There was no day room either. The old folk all sat there like Zombies all day.

When my DM was on a rehab unit I took her a CD/radio player and headphones and a stack of CDs. I also got a portable DVD player and some DVDs to watch.
Could you take something like that in? Less likely to 'walk' if they're confined to a side room.

Froggy99 · 15/02/2024 19:50

kayla12345 · 15/02/2024 19:23

I'm not allowed to take anything In as it won't be PAT tested. Offered to get it tested myself but they won't let me

I don't think they could use an iPad - they're elderly and not tech savvy. Plus I'd have to take it home to charge.

No portable TVs.

I just think as a minimum they should be trying to repair the aerial or provide a tv with smart function. I've offered to buy a tv myself but again not allowed 😩

My relative is really fed up, it's beginning to have a detrimental effect on her mental health

Get a battery powered radio? I don’t know why you can’t take something that’s not PAT tested as when I was in people were using all kinds of devices charged by using hospital power sockets 🤷‍♀️

TwattingDog · 15/02/2024 21:10

What complete horseshit. Take in anything you like - easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. Complain to PALS - imagine leaving him staring at the walls for three weeks without even a radio! Solitary confinement is a form of torture for a reason.

I know he'll have the clinical staff in and out, but unless people are actually sitting down and spending time talking to him, he's alone for most of the day and night.

Complain complain complain.

RosesAndHellebores · 15/02/2024 21:25

Its better when hospitals rent the tv's to the patients, then they can be exchanged.

In the meantime, radio and cd player, talking books?

zeibesaffron · 15/02/2024 21:42

I am not sure what a complaint will do as most NHS hospitals that have TV systems are outsourced -perhaps complain to the TV installation company.

The ward my fil was on recently had no TV so he had: books, a daily paper, crossword and suduko books (he is partially sighted so we took in his magnifying glass that he uses at home), we got him a cheap, sim mobile so we (and the grandkids) could call him anytime for a chat, he had an old cd player and headphones and we took in his fav cds. My DH took in his ipad in, he put some preloaded programs on there and wrote the instructions on how to use it down. My fil also got some muscle strengthening exercises from the Physios that he tried to do a few times a day - really simple stuff he did from his chair.

I don’t know whether your relative could do knitting, crocheting, sewing, drawing, use adult colouring books I know it maybe difficult with the stroke but sometimes dexterity is not as affected - I hope some of these things help 😀

Reddog1 · 15/02/2024 21:48

What complete horseshit. Take in anything you like - easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.

I agree with this. Do what’s necessary OP. Your relative is your priority here.

Pumpkintopf · 15/02/2024 21:50

I'd suggest trying PALS rather than clinical staff

Original poster
kayla12345 · 15/02/2024 22:00

Complained to PALS who said I needed to speak to the matron/ward manager as relative is inpatient. Neither have been in for 5 days and I've left 3 messages for someone to call me back. So complained to the nurse in charge tonight who was that aggressive with with her response she made me cry

OP posts:
TwattingDog · 15/02/2024 22:04

Back to PALS and ask them to manage the complaint. Make a further complaint about the nurse tonight.

They clearly think this is "Just about a TV", but it isn't - it's about the complete isolation of a vulnerable man who is required to be stuck in a room alone and has been left without anything at all to keep his mind active or engaged. Apart from unfair, it's bloody cruel.

Potentialmadcatlady · 15/02/2024 22:07

I took my laptop in with earphones and downloaded itv etc unto it for my Dad.

TheSnowyOwl · 15/02/2024 22:08

Unfortunately I don’t think that a tv is going to be classed as essential or something that a patient has a right to have.

It seems very ageist to write off them being able to use an iPad. If they can figure out a tv remote, they can figure out an iPad. People endlessly charge their phones and tablets in hospital so it won’t need to be PAT tested but you could also supply a powerful portable charger if you really needed to.

TeenLifeMum · 15/02/2024 22:13

Where is this? We all moved to “open visiting” which is 10-8 every day. All hospitals should have open visiting now.

portable dvd player is fine and you can charge a phone so the pat testing is bs. Complain to pals and email the chief nurse until you get attention.

justsayingthat · 15/02/2024 22:13

Buy an indoor aerial for the tv? They're about £12-15. Not as good signal-wise as the proper roof one, but better than nothing!

welshcakes6 · 15/02/2024 22:14

Usually it's an external company and when I was in they were pretty good at coming round and fixing them. Is there a sticker on it with a phone number? I'm sure there was on mine.
Hope they feel better soon it's so awful being stuck in hospital

welshcakes6 · 15/02/2024 22:16

I think they might be called hospedia although I suppose it depends on which hospital it is.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 15/02/2024 22:17

@kayla12345 if patients brought in their own tv, we used to just get the hospital electrician to check it over then they could use it no bother

fourelementary · 15/02/2024 22:19

A few solutions-

try an aerial that you fit yourself? like a portable one…
portable dvd player
radio
ipad or device with some downloaded content or audiobooks.
Echo show- though you’d need to load your own prime tv etc on it for him to use.
Ask if any wards have iPads on wheels that they all for during covid- ask the support staff rather than nurse in charge- they often know more than the NIC in terms of this kind of thing

Bring in a small tv if someone has one handy- don’t ask.

wallowinginmywellies · 15/02/2024 22:20

mobile phone, power bank, head phones, audible, or radio, or downloaded TV programmes, or whatever - and bring in a newly charged power bank every day.

Hospitals are not obliged to supply TVs

PurpleNebula84 · 15/02/2024 22:20

kayla12345 · 15/02/2024 19:23

I'm not allowed to take anything In as it won't be PAT tested. Offered to get it tested myself but they won't let me

I don't think they could use an iPad - they're elderly and not tech savvy. Plus I'd have to take it home to charge.

No portable TVs.

I just think as a minimum they should be trying to repair the aerial or provide a tv with smart function. I've offered to buy a tv myself but again not allowed 😩

My relative is really fed up, it's beginning to have a detrimental effect on her mental health

It doesn't have to be PAT tested.
PAT testing is for employers/businesses to ensure that equipment they are providing for people to use is safe (Health and Safety at Work etc.).
Unless you are planning on handing it or the charger round the ward for everyone to have a go - it's for personal use and PAT is not required.

WhoopWhoopNow · 15/02/2024 22:22

TeenLifeMum · 15/02/2024 22:13

Where is this? We all moved to “open visiting” which is 10-8 every day. All hospitals should have open visiting now.

portable dvd player is fine and you can charge a phone so the pat testing is bs. Complain to pals and email the chief nurse until you get attention.

DH’s ward last week had visiting 2pm-7pm. Also no tv’s.

Luxell934 · 15/02/2024 22:24

Do other patients in bays have a TV then?

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