Patients are being charged up to £10 a day to watch TV while they recuperate in their hospital beds. Scottish Labour have called for a review after uncovering figures showing five health boards bill sick Scots.Party MSP Paul Sweeney said: “Falling sick and going to hospital can be an isolating experience and for some patients, TV will be a lifeline.
However, it seems that whether patients can access it comes down to a postcode lottery. The SNP must ensure that patients get the same quality of care wherever they seek hospital treatment.”The SNP Government announced in 2020 patients would receive free bedside TV to combat loneliness - but only for three months.
A postcode lottery now exists where some hospitals charge the ill for turning on the TV.According to data obtained by Labour, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian, Lanarkshire, and Lothian charge patients in either one or some hospitals.Edinburgh patients must pay £9.90 to watch TV after midday, while some hospital users in Ayrshire pay £7.90 a day after noon.
Patients also pay £7.90 a day in Lanarkshire while Grampian confirmed charges but did not provide information on pricing. Highlands charges £1 to access Freeview.