PATIENTS at Monklands Hospital can now benefit from free unlimited outgoing calls to friends and family thanks to the launch of new bedside entertainment packages.
Hospedia UK Ltd, which operates Monklands Hospital’s patient bedside entertainment services, launched a series of new entertainment bundles that give free unlimited calls when they purchase one of Hospedia’s patient entertainment packages.
The new changes were introduced in response to demands from patients for a greater variety of TV package options leading to a range of short, medium and long stay bundles.
The bundles all include free unlimited outgoing calls so patients can now have unlimited TV, phone, internet and games for as little as £1.67 per day.
The new Hospedia packages include:
· Free unlimited outbound calls for patients to friends and family on 01, 02, and 03 land-line numbers
· A reduction in the cost of calling mobile phones by up to 60 per cent.
· Free email and internet
· Free games
· The choice of over 20 TV channels
· Packages that now match payment card values
Graham Johnston, NHS Lanarkshire’s head of management services said: "The bedside TV and phone system at Monklands Hospital is a valued service which allows the patient and their family to speak directly to each other without the need to go through the main hospital switchboard or call ward phones.
"This not only benefits the patient but also reduces the number of telephone interruptions to nursing staff allowing them more time to focus on patient care."
The new bundles have been well received as out of nearly 300 patients surveyed in one of the 150 hospitals Hospedia operates in across the UK, over 70 per cent thought the system offered value for money.
More importantly Hospedia found the new charges resulted in phone usage rising by 443 per cent and the average call length almost doubling from 2.75 minutes to 5.25 minutes.
Note
All patients have access to free radio through Hospedia without the need to purchase an entertainment package.
Outbound landline calls outwith one of the package bundles cost 10p per minute.
Inbound calls through the TV and phone system will continue to be charged at 39p off peak and 49p at peak times.
For more information on the bedside TV and phone service contact Hospedia through Monklands Hospital on 01236 748 748.