Phoning people in Hospital

carol_a_3

Someone in my family was in hospital over Christmas and it cost us a fortune to keep in touch.

moonrakerz

Am I being cynical if I were to suggest that the hospitals are getting a "cut" from the companies operating these extortionate 'phones. In the US they have totally removed the ban on the use of mobiles in hospitals. The frequencies that mobiles operate at will not have any effect on hospital equipment.

And don't mention hospital parking charges !!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Hebejebe_3

I was in hospital for two weeks end of 2003 and Januray 2004 after a very difficult pregnancy. The T.V was free on Christmas Day, whopee!! Total -rip off, back then you didn't even get anything back at the end of your stay.

The idea behind these t.v screens was to enable consultants etc to show a patient results/x-rays etc at the bedside and I believe this was why the majority of hospitals agreed to have them installed. Now they are in and they are just a money making exercise. What would happen if you took your own little portable telly in and plugged it in next to your bed?

ethansmum

Hebejebe wrote:

What would happen if you took your own little portable telly in and plugged it in next to your bed?

This would probably go against their health and safety regs- ie not tried and tested.

~You know what really annoys me? The very large number of nurses and hospital staff using their mobiles in the hospital when patients aren't allowed to :mad:

santana-mx3

moonrakerz wrote:

In the US they have totally removed the ban on the use of mobiles in hospitals. The frequencies that mobiles operate at will not have any effect on hospital equipment.

And don't mention hospital parking charges !!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Of course, mobiles in the US do work on a different frequency to ours. Having said that, like you I am not convinced that ours interfere with hospital equipment anyway - and if they do, that's a defect in hospital equipment that really shouldn't be there. Also, as Ethansmum says, some staff seem to be able to use them. I have noticed Estates Management staff happily walking around in hospital buildings using their mobiles.

Patientline is an absolute rip off. I have been amazed at how so many people on this site have defended them in the past.

Anthillmob

when i was in hospital having charlie i paid for the tv/phone on patientline. a one day card was a fiver and you got an extra hours free viewing on top of that plus the free viewing they do on all of the tv's though they started at 7.30am! it cost mr mob a fortune to call me but at least he could contact me.

regards mobile phones, when i was in the maternity ward everyone was using their mobiles. one of the midwives said she doesnt really mind if people use them but they could at least use them discreetly instead of openly flouting the rules.

i dont think mobiles do actually interfere with equipment as much as they make out.

Anthillmob

Hebejebe wrote:

What would happen if you took your own little portable telly in and plugged it in next to your bed?

youll get health and safety come and test it and stick a sticker in it like they did with my fairy lights one christmas at work.

Lyndsay_21

I have a friend who works at our local hospital and she says that the doctors and nurses etc are ALWAYS using their mobile phones inside the hospital so when i had my DS (nearly 2 now) i used mine for txting people and discreetly ringing people!!

zappomatic

Last time a relative was in hospital, the bedside phone/TV allowed you to watch the main 5 channels plus a couple of others for free, providing you registered a debit/credit card with them - obviously to make it easy for you to spend money on calls and extra TV!

Anthillmob

i was discreet with my mobile when i was in the maternity ward. whilst everyone else was allowing loud ring tones and making and taking blatant calls i'd draw the curtains round my bed and had all tones switched off.

im pretty sure i read somewhere that mobiles dont interfere with medical equipment. but i cant remember where. i found out after i was waiting for a blood test and there was a 2 hour wait so i called work to inform them and some old dear pointed to the "no mobiles" sign and read every word to me loudly and threatened to call security!