HOSPEDIA bedside premium rate 0872 numbers in hospitals.

neilmcl

I think we're missing the point. Outgoing calls from the patient bedside are free, the OP is moaning about having to pay to call from outside to the patient. I really don't see a big issue here.

unforeseen

The bedside telephone units continue to allow free outgoing calls to landline and mobile numbers, but incoming calls to the bedside 0872 number are charged to the caller at extortionate rates.

As neilmcl says there is no issue.

The phone is for the benefit of the patient not people who wish to call and talk to them.

You just need to minimise the cost the same way that was done to minimise call costs from landline to mobile. Short call to 0872, patient then calls back for free. You pay up to 78p and that's it.
Have people lost the ability to work out how to minimise costs themselves.

Patients don't need to know call costs BUT it is the callers to them that are responsible for finding out the costs of non-standard numbers and act accordingly.

neilmcl

If the OP really wants something to vent about then they could start with the ridiculous cost of TV on these systems and lack of free wifi. I've spent a lot of time in Addenbrookes over the past couple few years and I think it's scandalous that a patient doesn't get access to free TV 24/7 or wifi.

societys_child

ToxicWomble wrote: »

Let’s try an analogy then:

I book a 2 week All Inclusive holiday (hospital stay)

Never had a "holiday" in Pinderfields have you . . .

I have paid for this holiday (into the system)

While on holiday, I am not spending the £60 a week on food that I would be at home, I am not using gas or electricity and I am not using my car to commute so am probably “saving” ~£80 a week.

Eating in the restaurant because the free food is inedible and luke warm, costs more than £60 pw. No saving on gas and electric because my wife is still living at home! Is she not allowed heat and light? She doesn't drive, so ether a long way round one and a half hour bus route involving 2 or 3 buses (depending) or use taxis (20 mins). No savings there, it costs considerably more.

A relative/friend phones my mobile and subsequently mentions the high cost of phoning me whilst abroad.

No problem - have some of the £80 a week I saved.

No idea what that has do with anything.

That’s my point - hope it’s clearer for you both now.

Clear as mud. What is clear is that you haven't a clue.

So the context I would argue is not “utterly absurd” it just needs a bit of lateral thinking

It is also not correct to view “the system” as a piggy bank to make sure you get out what you put in. That’s not how it works. If it did - can I have my last 30years contributions back please cause I havent needed to use any of those services
I doubt most people would put in over a 5 year period the amount it costs to look after a ward patient for a week not even factoring in any surgery or scans etc

We've not got to the sleepless nights bit yet. Constantly woken as they move patients around, including me. Staff laughing and joking, slamming doors and windows all night.

It was so good, I signed myself out after 5 days of nothing much happening. They actually wanted to keep me in another 5 days until another dept. got around to looking at me. Bed blocking at it's finest.

That 5 days was considerably more expensive. You're on another planet . .

[Deleted User]

societys_child wrote: »

You're on another planet . .

While I agree with you, Society's Child, I think you need to "praise vent and warn" on a separate thread!

Ian011

"Let’s try an analogy then:"

Let's not.

I posted this thread as a warning about a new rip-off that appears to be operating in breach of Department of Health directives issued in December 2009. I didn't get as far as mentioning it's an American company or any of the other more politically sensitive issues.

It surprised me to see people trying to justify the rip off.

Given the recent news about the reduction of hospital car parking charges coming next year, I am just waiting for someone to post that Hospedia should raise their prices to offset the amount that patients would otherwise "save".

We live in "interesting times".

[Deleted User]

Ian011 wrote: »

We live in "interesting times".

Indeed we do, Ian.

unforeseen

Ian011 wrote: »

Let's not.

I posted this thread as a warning about a new rip-off that appears to be operating in breach of Department of Health directives issued in December 2009. I didn't get as far as mentioning it's an American company or any of the other more politically sensitive issues.

It surprised me to see people trying to justify the rip off.

Given the recent news about the reduction of hospital car parking charges coming next year, I am just waiting for someone to post that Hospedia should raise their prices to offset the amount that patients would otherwise "save".

We live in "interesting times".

Sorry Ian but they don't come under that directive so there is no breach

Dr_Crypto

I haven’t worked on the wards in years but even when I last did almost all patients had mobiles (families would bring them in for elderly people who didn’t have their own) and I never saw anyone make a call on these things.

Ian011

The issue is not in patients making calls, but in friends and relatives of patients calling the patient.