Patientline RVH

dmxdave

Is there anyway to keep in touch with a patient in the Royal without using "Patientline"? Could a mobile be used or still strictly a no-no? or are there pay phones about?

TIA

Leothecat

BIL a Dr there and as far as I am aware mobiles are now allowed on the wards. Avoid Patientline where possible - what a rip off - shouldn't be allowed!

Francophile

I recently was a patient in Dundonald and mobiles were permitted. I'm sure the RVH is the same.

SnowyOwl_2

Was up there visiting someone this evening - a young doctor spent about half an hour yapping into his mobile in the corridor of the ward I was visiting. On a previous visit a patient was in his bed using his mobile without a care in the world.

Unless it's something like intensive care using a mobile isn't really a problem. The staff use them on the wards all the time. They might get a bit grumpy about having a "valuable" on the ward. I didn't notice any payphones - sorry, wasn't looking out for them - but I should imagine there are some in the entrance foyer bit. If the patient is mobile s/he could go there for a natter. (Bring a gas mask as well as there are billows of cigarette smoke coming in from just outside the front door).

Patient Line is an utter rip off - 39p per minute :rotfl::rotfl:you don't even get a free gold bar.

I should be up there again in the next couple of days - I'll keep an eye open for pay phones and let you know if you'd like me to.

dmxdave

SnowyOwl wrote: »

I should be up there again in the next couple of days - I'll keep an eye open for pay phones and let you know if you'd like me to.

Thanks, if it's no trouble that would be appreciated.

SnowyOwl_2

It's no trouble at all!

Girlzmum

I actually tell patients to keep their mobiles with them and not use the patientline as its such a rip off. All I can say is that they're used with respect to other patients, very loud ringtones can be turned off etc.

SnowyOwl_2

dmxdave wrote: »

Thanks, if it's no trouble that would be appreciated.

Oops sorry, dmxdave, my patient has been discharged home so I didn't get up to the RVH after all.

I think you should be OK with a mobile, maybe a cheapy PAYG just in case someone with sticky fingers is hanging around - or put your usual one in your pillowcase. Or perhaps you could phone the RVH and ask switchboard to put you through to the reception desk in the main foyer - they can see from there if there are pay phones or not.

dmxdave

No problem, I have an old phone with a PAYG sim.
Glad to hear your patient is home.

dmxdave

Just home, and just for information using the mobile was no problem (I did respect the other patients and had it on silent and talked quietly or went out of the ward - unlike others! Dom Jolly springs to mind "IM IN THE HOSPITAL" lol

There was a payphone in the ward which boasted "20 mins for 40p" or 30 seconds for 40p minimum charge.

Patentline or Hospedia they have rebranded offer 10p per minute £2 credit required no refund and very kindly offer to inform as many people as you want of your beside number and you can win 1/2 day free TV WOW! if you win the draw (How much does it cost to ring into a patient?)

Oh and while I am still ranting the 24Hr TV charge means that 1 day not how many hours you have used it - the postion and size of the screen also makes viewing difficult.

OK the radio is free......if you have headphones to listen to it!!

This is just the services you would want for everyone in hospital for whatever reason

Milko

Glad to see you back out ... see you in work tomorrow