Hospital patients to get free TV after government deal
Patients in six hospitals across Scotland are to receive free bedside television for the next three months in light of the ban on visitors during the coronavirus crisis.
The Scottish Government yesterday revealed it had agreed a package worth an estimated £2.4 million with broadcast provider Hospedia to give free TV to all inpatients for the next three months in an attempt to help their mental wellbeing while being barred from seeing friends and family.
There are around 3400 bedside TV units in the affected hospitals, which can cost a patient £7.90 a day. The total cost for 90 days’ daily use in all beds is £2.4 million.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We know that being in hospital can be a lonely time, and even more so when your visitors are significantly restricted.
“Doing what we can to limit the spread of Covid-19 is the right thing to do but we also need to make sure we’re taking care of the wellbeing of our hospital inpatients wherever we can.
“That is why, for a temporary period of three months, we are covering the cost of providing bedside television to every hospital in-patient in Scotland. We are asking our patients and visitors to work with us to save lives by helping limit the spread of coronavirus.”
The hospitals concerned are Monklands, Raigmore in Inverness, University Hospital Ayr, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Crosshouse in Kilmarnock. All other hospitals in Scotland will continue to have their TV services provided by their health board free of charge.
The agreement to suspend television fees follows the announcement last week that parking charges will be waived for three months at the three hospital car parks in Scotland where staff charges remain – Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.