Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Bedside television service for patients is switching off
The fee-charging bedside television service for patients at University Hospital Monklands will be removed in the coming months.
NHS Lanarkshire officials say their contract with provider Hospedia is coming to an end, and that future patients will instead have shared sets with Freeview in day rooms, plus free wifi allowing them to use their own devices.
The Airdrie hospital is one of six across Scotland currently using the paid-for service, which costs patients up to £7.90 a day for use of the bedside TV sets.
Graham Johnston, NHS Lanarkshire’s head of planning and development, said:“The Scottish Government agreed a package with Hospedia to give free TV to all inpatients for a three-month period which has now ended.
“As our contract with Hospedia ends this year, we will be removing all Hospedia units from University Hospital Monklands over the coming months.
“Patients will continue to have access to shared televisions with Freeview channels in ward day rooms.
“Free guest wifi, which enables patients to use their own devices to access to internet while they are in our hospitals, continues to be available.”
The regular charges were halted for three months from April while visiting was suspended during the coronavirus lockdown, after the Scottish Government agreed a special package with the provider – impacting 3400 beds at the six hospitals using the entertainment service.
Airdrie North councillor Sophia Coyle had started an online petition prior to the announcement calling for patients at Monklands to be given the TV service free of charge, while Coatbridge South colleague Tracy Carragher wrote to NHS Lanarkshire making the same request after the issue was raised by a constituent.