Patients at Birmingham’s showpiece new hospital have been hit with price rises of up to 50 per cent to watch bedside television.
The son of a pensioner being treated at the £2.6billion Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston branded the hikes “wicked” and accused bosses behind the increases of “preying on the sick”.
It now costs almost £28 for a week’s viewing and £3 for just two hours.
Just over a week ago the hospital was criticised for putting up its car park charges.
The hospital, which contracts Premier Telesolutions Limited to supply the service, is also the only one in Birmingham to see a price increase in TV viewing.
Premier, which made an annual profit of £1.9 million in 2009 before tax, has raised charges from £2 to £3 for two hours TV – a 50 per cent increase.
Charges for 24 hours TV rose from £4.50 to £4.90 (a nine per cent rise), while three days viewing saw a hike from £9.50 to £11.50 (a 21 per cent rise).
Furious Malcolm Wooley, from Selly Oak, whose mother Eileen is being treated for a stroke at the QE, said he was astounded to see the price of watching television rise by £2 within her week’s stay.
“It is a wicked thing that patients should have to pay to watch television anyway,” said Mr Wooley, aged 65. “They are preying on the sick and making a lot of money from it.
“I was gobsmacked when I noticed the prices had gone up even more. There are extortionate prices for parking and now extortionate prices just to watch television.
“Patients are a captive market and TV is often the only thing they can do to pass the time, but it costs £28 for just a week of viewing. Imagine if you are stuck on a ward for longer?”
Gareth Duggan, spokesman for Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Premier Telesolutions, said: “Prices for patient entertainment are set by Premier Telesolutions in consultation with this NHS Trust.
“This is not a core NHS service and the Trust must give priority to patient care when making decisions on budget allocations.
“Patients choose whether to use the system, which provides free access to radio and internet.The prices charged reflect the cost of staff and equipment for installing, maintaining and managing the system in a clinical environment.”
When asked if the Trust have ever received any money from Premier over contract or profits made during the year, Mr Duggan said: “We do not receive any money from Premier to run the service.”
Prices compare starkly to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where there is no charge to watch television on wards.
Heartlands, Good Hope, Solihull, Redditch’s Alexandra, Birmingham’s City and Sandwell hospitals all use company Hospedia to provide bedside TVs and ask cheaper prices. The most recent directors’ report for Hospedia, formerly called PatientLine, showed the company made a year profit of £187 million up to March 2009.
Prices from Hospedia are £2.50 for two hours, £5 for 24 hours, £10 for three days, £15 for five days, £20 for ten days or £30 for 20 days with additional costs to watch films.
There are also reduced rates for over-65s of £3.50 for 48 hours and £20 per fortnight plus free viewing for children.
