The cost of watching a day’s TV at Oxfordshire’s hospitals has more than doubled in six years.

In 2006, patients at Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals paid just £3.50 a day to use their bed- n Continued on page 2 side TV set. Now, the cost, which also applies to the Horton Hospital in Banbury, has soared to at least £7.50 for 24 hours use – rising to £10 for a more comprehensive package.

Conversely inmates at the county’s prisons pay just £1 per day for the use of an in-cell TV.

Last night an Oxfordshire patients group labelled the costs “exorbitant”. Jacquie Pearce-Gervis, of watchdog Patient Voice, said: “It’s exorbitant in these difficult times. Especially when you think the people who are watching it are very ill and maybe losing salary while in hospital.

“It’s preying on vulnerable people who don’t choose to be in hospital and don’t choose to be bed bound.”

Sick people staying in most wards across the three hospital sites have the option to rent a pay-per-view television and telephone service, run by company Hospedia.

Certain wards, including some children’s wards, get the TV service free.

Elsewhere, the rates are: 24 hours – £10, 24 hour value bunder – £7.50, Three Days – £20, Five Days – £25, 10 Days – £35, 20 Days – £45, Free outgoing calls to 01, 02 & 03 BT Landlines are included with any purchased bundle.

Oxford University Hospitals Trust, which runs the sites said it did not make any money from the charges and all profits went to the private entertainments company.

An OUH spokesman said: “All in-patients at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust are able to watch television in ward day rooms across every hospital site.

“Additionally, patients have access to a free radio service at their bedside. Public telephones are available on wards with some areas allowing use of mobile phones. The trust has had Hospedia services for its patients since they were first introduced across the country in 2001.”

Hospedia made £2m profit for the year ending March 2011.

A spokesman for Hospedia said the £10 package, introduced over the past month, was just one of a number available to patients.

He said: “We have a two hour mini bundle at a cost of £2.50, for patients who only wish to watch a few hours of TV, and a 12 hour £5 mini bundle.

“A 24 hour £7.50 value bundle which includes the full 25-plus TV channels, unlimited internet access (which is not available on paediatric wards) and a selection of films, plus of course the unlimited outbound calls to UK landlines.”

The spokesman added the 2006 package for £3.50 included about 18 channels but no films or no calls. She was unable to say whether it included internet.

Dave Beesley is one of the founding members of the Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group.

He said: “I know that it is has been very expensive for people when they are staying in hospital.”

Prostate cancer patient Simon Lord, 52, of Cholsey, said: “When I was in hospital very few people seemed to be using the TVs.”