Local Hospital Telephones under Attack

1.52.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Jun 2007

The Borough's Forum for Older People, supported by Vincent Cable MP, is pressing the Government to sort out the problems faced by the West Middlesex and other hospitals, over the numerous problems with the HTS/HOSPICOM bedside telephone and TV system.

Patients encounter numerous problems because equipment is frequently out of action, excessively costly and poorly serviced and there have been complaints around the country over the supplier.

Vincent Cable said: "Hospital is rarely a pleasant experience that, especially for those detained for substantial periods, it is important to have telephone contact with loved ones and the distraction which telephone provides. Nothing is more galling for patients to find that the equipment is defective or that they are charged exorbitantly for using it.

"There is a government working party look at the problem but I suspect that, without pressure, this Whitehall exercise will go on for ever."