DC wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 3:20am:

But having signed a 15 year contract, they are in a much weaker position to negotiate any changes/modifications that would allow the provision of an internet connection. Has the NHS not considered the internet when implementing a telephone and television system, such as Patientlines'?

DC wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 3:20am:

Perhaps a new company will come in and provide a way of securing such high value gadgets. 

DC wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 3:20am:

...And DC goes on to say...
DC wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 3:31am:

That's very sporting of Patientline. I must admit that I have not had the misfortune to go into hospital in a long while. I must say though, that the idea of having the television on in the corner of a shared ward on a channel/programme that I'm not too keen on is far better than having that choice taken away from me.

And, by paying £3.50 per day, what guarantee do I have that there will be something I want to watch? Maybe I'll be watching the same programme as would have been on the ward's television, something that I wouldn't have normally watched, had I not been in hospital.

DC wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 2:53am:
I'm afraid this is not always true about radio channels being free to watch because the hospitals I've been in (thank god only visiting) the radio hasn't been available.  With the exception of a few channels the majority of channels available are actually FTV (free-to-view) anyhow.

Now Patientline may currently be making a loss but this is normal when starting a business with such high initial outgoing costs.  Sky, o2 and many, many other companies made a loss at first but now they are making a (huge) profit - especially Sky.

The problem with Patientline is that they obviously want their money back but they could make this back overtime without charging over the odds on TV and incoming calls which the cheapest being 39p/min (off-peak) from a BT landline and more from most other telco's - similar to what Sky and o2, etc have had to do.

Now o2 had competition so they obviously couldn't charge over the odds and Sky has a little (I do mean little) competition from cable companies but Patientline have NO competition whatsoever for the next 15 years and going by recent news it appears Patientline have even had it in their contracts with the hospitals (possibly some but not sure) that they HAVE to remove the existing TV's.  Why did Patientline insist on this in their contract?  The only conclusion I come to is to force those few patients that going in the waiting room to watch TV and force them (providing they want to watch TV) to pay the £3.50.  I realise they are not forcing patients to watch TV but they know what else is there to do in a hospital except watch TV?

Lets do a quick comparison on costs based on an unfortunate person in hospital for only 5 days:-

5 days @ 3.50 per day is £17.50 for only the 5 days.

I, at home, pay Sky just over £20 per month for all channels except the premium channels like Movies (always repeats anyhow) and Sports (go the pub) so immediately they are gaining a lot from this £3.50 which is then topped-up by the incoming calls of at least 39p/min.

The obvious point, as pointed out in previous posts, is that the Patientline 15year deal is completely and totally uncompetitive and restrictive and what happens with companies that have no competition?  Simply they can do and charge what they like without very little recourse.

Eventually, just as Sky and o2 etc did, then Patientline will be out of debt but do you really think or expect them to reduce their TV to a more reasonable level or use a lower costing incoming call number other than 07 personal number?  Answer is NO, again simply because there would be no competition/reason for them to do so.

One could also ask why did Patientline choose a 07 personal number and not a premium rate 09x number?  Simply to avoid having to abide by ICSTIS guidelines which are meant to be for our protection and also because it is perfectly reasonable for a not-so-knowledgable person to think that a number beginning 07 is a mobile number and therefore included in any inclusive packages or at a more reasonable rate.  They only tell you about the 49p/min cost on the cards at the hospitals but how many patients when giving the number out (especially older patients) are going to mention to whomever they are giving the number to that it costs 50p/min?

If patientline were forced to use 09x which they should if they wanted to continue to charge this much because then when people ring they would be reminded that they are paying 49p/min which would make people very wary of ringing the number.  To avoid all this Patientline have sneakily used a 07 number and gaining revenue from it which under normal circumstances revenue sharing is prohibited but Patientline used a loophole so as to still gain the revenue but without the added protection and consumer awareness of 09x numbers which they should have used.

DC wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 3:20am:


These units earn over £1,000 a year just from the tv channel service.  That's before allowing for say perhaps £1.50 a day of phone calls so another £500 a yearof income.  If Patientline is losing money it must either be an incompetent middle man service company paying a ripoff level of fees to a third party contractor to install this simple cable tv and cable phone and internet system (no different from systems NTL and Telewest install all over the country into blocks of fats) to each hospital bedside or it loses money because Mr Lewis and his fellow directors pay themselves enormous bonuses and salaries and it is currently convenient for it to make the loss to in some way defray the initial investment in equipment.  Perhaps ina year or two when there is no tax benefit to making a loss and the initial equipment setup is done it will start making huge profits?

May I ask if you are perhaps a regular church goer and usually always believe the best in everyone because for you not to think that for patients to be asked to pay around £1500 a year for tv and phone on systems that can't possibly have cost more than £400 per bed to install really seems to show the most charming naivety and faith that those in positions of authority know better than you and are always more incompetent by you.

If of course the televisions only get used on a pay basis for say 60 days a year because most patients won't pay the extortionate fees then that says Patientline is quite incompetent and inflexible company when surely if the cost was only £1 per day then 90% of the tvs would be in use by patients.

I accept that being a patient in an NHS hospital is a miserable and isloating experience and that's why I don't think that communication and entertainment should only be affordable for better off patients.  However like so many other fees and charges introduced since the advent of New Labour this is yer another regressive tax that is most unfair of all to those on lowest incomes.

Hi NGM - Just a small point:

You said: "Calls from a BT Payphone to any uk landline starting 01 or 02 cost 30p for 15 minutes or £1.20 for 1 hour"

I think the cost is 30p for the first 15 mins (10p connection + 20p call charge) then 10p for each 7.5min (or Part).

A 1 hour call (or 59min 59seconds to be exact) should cost   30p + (6 x 10p) = 90p                [7.5 x 6 = 45mins]

Quote:

Yes, illogical rip-off Britain is live and well! 

Quote:


What are you going on about - FACT a patient can have a calling card that gives them OUT GOING calls for 10p per min - so as I said, if a friend or relative buys the PATIENT a calling card, then the PATIENT can call the friend or relative for - 10p per min - nothing to do with the Ward telephone trolley!! and NO 49p involved WHATSOEVER.  (Unless they choose to phone a premium number)

Patients can call the Hospital Radio station for FREE - we had a wire installed to the control room, so all Patients can call us for a music request FREE, they just press the grey button, or #0800 on T2 terminals. Before Patientline they would have had to PAY using the ward telephone trolley.

I think it is you who do not understand the facts, I believe with 18 years working with entertainment/communication systems in Hospital, and seeing the very real benefits to the Patient I am better qualified than yourself to say who is in a world of fantasy on this matter.