BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!

Subject: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: eddie1
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 12:28 PM

Patientline is a private company which provides bedside units in UK hospitals with television (which patients must "rent" to use) and telephones. They have just announced that they are increasing the cost of phone calls from 10p to 26p per minute (a 160% increase!). They are quoted as saying that they have made a capital outlay of £60 million and they must recoup this and make a profit.
Pity they can only make their profit out of the sick and bedridden who up till now had no choice if they wanted to use a phone.
Thank God it has been decided by the powers that be that mobile phones are not the hazard they were thought to be in hospitals.
I hope this means patients are not now restricted to Patientline for making calls.
Frankly, I don't care if they go bust!

Eddie

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 12:35 PM

That's outrageous! Our hospitals provide local phone service as part of the standard room, no extra charge.

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: danensis
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 01:01 PM

There's no good reason why mobile phones shouldn't be used in hospitals. In the "good old days" when they were the size of a brick, and none of the equipment had RF filters in it, then there might have been a problem, but the latest tests show no effects from mobile phones. Indeed most of the nurses and doctors carry them, so if there was a problem it would have shown up by now. Added to that most of the maintenance staff and porters use PMR which has a much higher output than mobile phones, Not to mention all the visitors standing outside the window using their mobiles, and the whacking great mobile phone mast just outside the hospital.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 01:12 PM

That's Thatcher's friends for you

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 01:18 PM

I suspect that Patientline may bring some influence to bear on hospitals, in order to encourage them to continue with their mobile phone ban!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 03:53 PM

There are times I really wonder if some companies have ever heard of Supply, demand, and margins...

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 03:58 PM

Well I've been in hospital twice in the past year, and I can tell you what happens. Patients don't buy the cards to watch TV and make phone calls, their doting relatives do, and so Patientline will still get lots of business. I'm pleased to say that I'm old enough to remember what a book is, and never spent one penny with this rip off company during my time in there.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 04:33 PM

A boo - What's a, how-you-say - book?

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 04:37 PM

Old fashioned entertainment matey ;)
G

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: Tootler
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 07:12 PM

"they are increasing the cost of phone calls from 10p to 26p per minute"

If you think that is bad, then to phone in costs 49p per minute peak and 39p off peak from a land line. "Mobile tariffs may vary" was the message I got when I rang my wife to see how she was this afternoon.

"There are times I really wonder if some companies have ever heard of Supply, demand, and margins..."

They have. I believe what Patientline have is called a monopoly.

I have heard that hospitals get nothing from Patientline for the "service" the provide. If that's true it's nothing short of scandalous. There is a clear need for some sort of regulation, but no chance given our present govt. has bought into the Thatcher project.

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 09:06 PM

Having recently spent time in a local NHS hospital, I was informed by the nurses on arrival about the high cost of using the Patientline phones. The nurses suggested that I used my mobile instead!

BOOK is a nemonic for Basic Optical Organisational Keeper.

Colyn.

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 05:20 AM

I hold no brief whatsoever for Patientline, but the system has enabled Radio Leighton, the hospital station I'm involved with in Crewe, to broadcast in high quality stereo on a system far superior to the old 'earphone' system at (as far as I know) no charge to the hospital or the radio station. All the radio services on Patientline are free and there is no compulsion to join the full service.
I realise this is a side issue and in no way excuses or justifies the exorbitant price increase, but thought I should point out that things with Patientline are not all negative.

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 08:49 PM

Thatcher's friends - but friends of her apprentice Tony Blair as well. Sick, but not the kind of sickness that has any place at all in hospital.

Subject: RE: BS: Patientline - What a rip-off!
From: danensis
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 11:23 AM

I understand the latest argument against mobile phones is that many of them now have cameras in them, and this is a breach of patients; privacy and dignity.

I must admit that if the hospital had a choice between spending £1m on medical equipment or spending it on a phone and tv system, I would much rather they spent it on the medical equipment.

Anyone remember the old days where you had one tv at the end of the ward which kept you awake all night as the insomniacs stayed glued to it?

John