Vow to tackle ‘rip-off’ hospital TV firms

LABOUR is to launch a crackdown on private firms who “prey on the sick” by charging NHS patients “rip off” fees to watch TV in hospital.

Companies make patients pay as much as £10 a day to use bedside TV by putting money on to a card.

Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth will today vow in his keynote speech to clamp down on the culprits. Labour is considering capping the amount. Lyn Aspinall told the Mirror her dad Jim, 70, was charged £600 to watch TV at King’s Mill Hospital, in Sutton-in-Ashfield,

HUGE BILL Jim Aspinall Notts, after having strokes. Lyn said: “Paying £34.90 a week just to watch the TV is unacceptable. Patients like my father… are being taken advantage of.”

Mr Ashworth told the Mirror: “Jim’s story makes me so angry.

“I’m putting these TV companies on notice – I want to end these rip-offs and give patients a fair deal.”

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