To complain to hospital about this?

[kayla12345]

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.

cant they just watch stuff off an iPad and laptop? I was on maternity ward for 6 days and did this.

Someone wanted their TV on and the midwives didn’t know how to do this because no one had asked this for so long… they just use their own devices.

When mum was on the Stroke ward we took her tablet in..we used to put her headphones on before we left, and play a talking book or something on iplayer. We would charge it during the visit so the staff didn’t need to.

I can’t image a Trust full of inpatients, who aren’t allowed access to phones or tablets, due to them not being PAT tested…. I think something has been lost in translation. It suits the staff if the patients are more occupied.

People insisting that OP's relative must be able to manage an iPad if she can manage a remote really have no concept of how some people would really struggle with that, especially after a stroke. When my mother had a stroke it knocked out her ability to deal with numbers. Despite my father being very IT savvy, she had never had anything to do with computers before her stroke, and there was simply no chance of her learning to do so afterwards. She had to be reminded constantly about how to use the nurse call button by her bed. We got her a mobile phone produced by one of the charities for old people, with large numbers and three pre-sets on which we put our numbers, but she never used it. She did have a working TV when she was in a rehab ward, but because it had an unfamiliar remote the reality was that other people had to turn it off and on and tune it in for her.

OP, I think it is absolutely justifiable making a fuss about this. As I understand it, there is a real risk of vascular dementia after a stroke, and being left for hours on end doing nothing is going to exacerbate that risk. There are good medical reasons for keeping people's minds occupied and active, which is probably why TVs are freely available in rehab wards anyway.

To be on a maternity ward you're a young woman and are highly likely to be in generally good health.

This person is already elderly, technology not being something they are able to cope with, and is now recovering from a stroke which can have enormous effects on cognitive ability and physical ability to function.

I'd expect this unit and the staff to have a far better comprehension of what is appropriate in this scenario, however when one nurse is reducing family to tears, it's apparent there's more than one issue.

This

Stop complaining about the bloody TV, the nurses have enough to do.

When my TV wouldn't work and I was long stay they lent me the wards training portable dvd player because there is only so much reading you can do. Any chance you can ask if they have one, just to borrow now and then to break up the monotony of being in hospital.

Thank you - my relative is in their 90's so there no chance they are going to be able to work an I pad or tablet - especially now.

I understand that the nurses are busy but this isn't someone in a side room for a week or two - realistically they are going to be in another 3 months so sitting alone for potentially 4 months is just not acceptable. The infection control for the trust specifically says they need to be isolated until discharge and this is an infection they've picked up on the ward!

@Mrspimplepopper would you be happy with a relative of yours sat in a room on their own, that they can't leave, with no working tv, radio or anything for potentially 4 months?

I wouldn't be bothering clinical staff with this.

It sounds a bit rubbish for your relative, but like others have said, many hospitals don't even have TV's for patients. Sounds like a bit of a non-issue in the grand scheme of them getting better.

Maybe they's let you fundraise for some 'enrichment' items for the ward. If you asked on facebook, you could probably get enough money for a ward TV quite quickly. Or even just ask if someone has a battery powered radio they can donate to you.

@HateMyselfToo there is a tv on the ward, my relative can't leave their room though! There's a tv in their room but it doesn't get any signal.
They're going to be in hospital for months and segregated too so it's not like it's a short stay.

This is a rehabilitation unit not a general hospital ward

Take a radio in, if they complain say you’ll remove it when the tv is fixed.

Slightly sad to think TV is the only form of “mental stimulation” you believe to be available to elderly people though! I worked for the NHS long before TV in rooms was a thing. I’d see people with magazines, puzzle books, small jigsaw puzzles, photo albums, books, card/board games, craft activities such as knitting or embroidery, modelling with clay or model kits (particularly good for any arm/hand weakness!), listening to audiobooks on a walkman or ipod, writing letters etc. These activities are far more beneficial for stroke recovery than passively watching TV.

Battery radio could be an option. Some have ear/ headphone sockets. No need for a PAT test for the radio then

@Ghostgirl77 I've never said it's the only form on mental stimulation?
They have magazines, puzzle books, books and get a daily paper.
They have lost some movement in their left arm as result of the stroke so wouldn't be able to do a jigsaw, knitting or anything like that

No I wouldn't..... but I would take in music, headphones, a radio, magazines etc

Of course they don’t need to be PAT tested. All our paediatric patients turn up with iPads, mobiles and tablets. Our parents sit with their laptops doing work!

Things that are battery powered or usb powered do not need PAT testing. You can absolutely take a battery radio.

I'd just take in your own devices for them
I bet people all over the hospital are plugging in phones and ipads so the PAT testing thing sounds like bullshit.

How about a portable DVD player?

If PALS are being no good then I would, in all seriousness, contact my MP about this. And I would tell PALS that I had done so. That'll put a rocket up them.