To think there’s no need for tv’s on hospital wards

[Ketley67]

I’m currently in hospital after having major surgery. I’m on a bay with some very poorly ladies. They/we are either sleeping, vomiting or just trying to manage our pain. No one’s chatting to each other, most are bed bound. Visitors are all being very quiet and respectful often just sitting watching their loved one sleep. I’m probably the most able here but my visitors are speaking in hushed tones to respect the other patients needs.

The cleaner on our ward is so loud. Every time she’s comes into our bay she puts the radio on the TV and announces ‘let’s have some music’, the nurses agree with her. She doesn’t turn it off as she leaves. I’m fed up of asking for it to go off. I feel im being a nuisance especially when I have medical needs that I have to be asked to be met.

Most people have their own personal devices if they want to listen to music or watch TV and whilst I can appreciate that some people enjoy some music when they’re working surely this isn’t the time or the place for it.

I was in so much pain yesterday I couldn’t even bare to be touched, the additional sensory in put from the shitting music really tipped me over the edge.

@Ketley67 the tv isn't the problem it's the cleaner turning it on. Can you not chat to the nurses about it?

Ask to speak to the ward manager, even if the cleaner does enjoy listening to music whilst they work it isnt always appropriate. No doubt they think they are lifting the mood and dont mean any harm, but they need to be told.

Can’t you just say you’d rather have P&Q, please?

There was no such thing when I was in for 3 weeks a few years ago. Once I was over the worst I’d have gone mad without my Kindle, though, and my phone.

Yanbu and I hope you get better soon.

My toddler ds had an overnight stay in hospital recently (he's fine now) and the nurses had the radio on all night! It was on a very low volume but that was almost as annoying as I could make out some words but not all, and could most hear just the beat of the music.

Plus the constant beeping of the various alarms like when blood oxygen got too low. It wasn't a lovely environment at all

My point is that if there was no TV the onus wouldn’t t be on me to have the conversation about it. I ask them every day to turn it off, yesterday I was told ‘well I can turn it down’. I said no one is listening to it!

She's doing it for her own entertainment. Ask to speak to which ever nurse is in charge. I'm a troublemaker, so I'd probably get a visitor to cut the plug off.

If you don't want to raise it OP, what about some earplugs? Perhaps some Loop ones.

Maybe others would prefer something to distract them from their discomfort.

Hospital wards are always difficult, some like it quiet and dark, some prefer light and buzz.

The nurses usually go for a mix because it helps maintain a regular sleep pattern of awake during the day and asleep at night.

YANBU. There is absolutely no reason for the TV to be on and the bloody cleaner can wear headphones if s/he wants to listen to music. It's bad enough being stuck in hospital, ill and on a public ward where anyone can wander in and out and there is constant noise and disturbance, but the inane and infuriating noise of a television blaring away is the icing on the cake!

Tell the nurses to turn off when she comes in today. She’s doing it for herself not for anyone else.

That’s awful!

I just feel so over stimulated. It’s never dark, I’ve got 4 cannulas, various drips beeping at me, a catheter. The radio noise on top makes me feel like I’m being tortured.

When I was in hospital with a serious infection, I was in a bay with an elderly woman with dementia whose family woild turn the tv on for her in the evening as they left. The lady would fall fast asleep and we would be left with Eastenders etc blaring out for ages.

It drove me to tears. I was so tired and felt so ill and it was so intrusive.

Much sympathy.

Thankyou. I do have earplugs but I can’t stand the feeling of them in my ears, I’m really struggling with having so many ‘things’ on me/in me.

Really? It’s NEVER quiet and dark, there’s constant light and buzz without a bloody TV on top. None of us here need help with sleeping patterns, we’re not babies. We’re all trying to recover from major ill health.

Sounds hellish OP. Can I recommend a Snoozeband, I also don’t like earplugs but they are very soft and you can pull them down over your eyes as well so would help with the light. I play white noise through mine to block out all the other annoying noise.

Actually the issue is that hospitalisation and care combined with the loosening of Matron's grip is inappropriate in the 21st Century.

In 1950 the public accepted nightingale wards, strict rules about noise and lights out,there was no social media and a tv room if people were able. In 2026 the rules no longer apply and nirses and patients alike wouldn't tolerate them.

In the US and much of Europe patients have private rooms because as the world has evolved that's what we want and expect.

Dignity is the key and it has flown away.

I'm sorry @Ketley67 - I'd ask to speak to the Sister in charge.

It’s so hard because either option is worse for some and better for others.

I’ve had long hospital stays and preferred the TV to be on in the daytime as it differentiated day and night even if I couldn’t sleep, and also just because it distracted me.

The other beeping noises / random noises in hospital are constant but don’t distract my brain in the way that dialogue / visuals do.

Everyone is different. Sorry you’re struggling and really hope you can enjoy some peace and quiet soon

Kingdomofsleep I am sorry your LO was ill and hope hes feeling better.However I have been in hospital for 7 operations (and waiting for my 8th!) At no point have any of these been "lovely"! Save for having my own room a couple of times .The last time was a nice lady who was very jolly. Night times though she talked fairly loudly to 2 am! Always someone in or out or needing their meds cue lights on voices being heard ,Just when you get off get woken at 6.30 am for Breakfast!

Yes, clearly I was being sarcastic, I don't expect a hospital ward to be actually "lovely". This one was horrific though in other ways I haven't described but I didn't want to make the thread all about my son

Op I'm sorry you're feeling tortured, I really get it.

If you keep raising it enough (how much pain you're in and the music making it worse) you might get offered a side room.

Otherwise it's just a countdown to discharge. Do you know how long you're likely to be in for?

This.

Is she African? This is something my loud, bubbly African friend would do!

Complain and keep complaining to the ward sister, OP until they tell the cleaner to stop. It's not on that the cleaner puts their preferences of music on to you and the other poorly ladies who are all resting.

Remember as well, you're in charge of when you go home - if at any point the balance tips and you reckon you can be better taken care of at home, then you can tell the doctors you're self discharging. That's what I did after my first c section. The care I received was so bad for several reasons that "lessons were learnt" apparently. Including being given medication I'm known to be allergic to!

I agree OP. We had this when my mum was in hospital with a stroke,no one wanted the radio on and people kept asking for it to be turned off so they could sleep. The Sister refused and said she didn't like quiet as it drove her mad (wtf?) Every time I visited I turned it off when her back was turned but she'd turn it on again when she realised. Extremely odd woman.

Last time I was in hospital a woman came round all the wards and sang to us. It was bloody awful. I closed my curtains but I heard one woman asking if she sang at funerals and the singer gave her a card. It was pretty funny in a ‘dear god, please make it stop’ kind of way.