The report found that 88% of patients and relatives surveyed rated the cost of inbound calls to these phones as expensive or very expensive and in some cases as causing real hardship.
"Bedside telephone systems, such as that being installed at the MRI and that already completed at Wythenshawe Hospital are to be welcomed for the convenience they allow patients and their relatives and friends. However, it is clear from this report that the cost of calls to these phones is adversely impacting on many patients and their relatives at a very stressful and vulnerable time. The government should act on this report to lower the cost of these calls in future"
That this House recognises the concerns expressed by many hon. Members and others about the high cost of incoming calls to hospital bedside telephones provided by Patient-line, Premier and Hospital Telephone Services; warmly welcomes the Fairtalk survey carried out by Patient and Public Involvement forums across England which covered 40 per cent. of all hospitals using these services and questioned 1,255 patients and members of the public, a much larger sample than previously surveyed; notes that in 88 per cent. of cases people surveyed rated the cost of inbound calls as expensive or very expensive and in some cases as causing real hardship, and that 80 per cent. were not aware of any areas within hospitals where they could use a mobile phone; and calls on the Government to ensure these findings are taken into full account during the current review of the use of mobile phones in hospitals and when awarding or reviewing the contracts to the providers of bedside telephone systems.
