§ Mr. BaconTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the provision of pay-to-view television for patients in(a) the James Paget hospital in Gorlston, Norfolk and (b) other NHS hospitals; and whether NHS hospitals are permitted to cease provision of free-to-air television. [33595]
§ Ms BlearsNational Health Service Estates has worked with staff in trusts, and potential suppliers to set up a national licensing system that allows suppliers, who have demonstrated that they have the capacity to install and effectively manage a bedside communication and entertainment system, to provide the service in NHS hospitals.
The suppliers are responsible for all aspects of installation, managing and running the service and for any associated costs. They make a charge to the patient for use of the services provided. The trust does not bear any of the cost of either the installation or running of the service.
Patients at the James Paget hospital will have the choice of pay-to-view television at their bedside or free television viewing in the hospital day rooms. NHS Estates specified to trusts and suppliers, at the outset, that access to the free televisions in communal rooms and payphone telephones 671W would not cease to exist as a result of the introduction of the bedside services. These will remain an alternative for patients who do not wish to use bedside services.