"Lack of tv for the sick"

My dad recently in ward 205 in ARI and had been in several days shifted around wards due to emergencies (which is totally understandable) however he was placed in wards with no access to television , after surgery he was then moved to HDU where once again staff were amazing and later transferred back to ward where again no access to television. So I asked two staff members I had a very small portable tv brand new and would I able to bring it in. They both said ok so I then travelled home to return with tv (my dad was unable to get out of bed and walk to a tv room) and plugged it in only to be told by nurse in charge it needed pat tested.

My argument here is there is more chance of the 1000’s of phone chargers from cheap stores plugged in around various hospitals in Aberdeen.  There are hairdryers, straighteners , equipment & various other electricals plugged in that I know for certain haven’t been pat tested and cheap phone chargers been the main cause of fires yet it’s passed as okay!  I believe even staff plug in chargers that haven’t been pat tested so why was my dad stopped from using a brand new television with minimal chance of causing fire when there are far more higher risk items using power points around various hospitals? Why was we told different answers from staff?

So I then travelled back home and brought in computer so he could watch television and again this wasn’t pat tested but it was allowed to be used? Even with the wards that have patientline access, the prices are shocking and many sick and vulnerable people can’t afford to watch the television. They pay their television license at home therefore should not be charged extortionate prices to access television. When they’re old & frail and little visitors, it’s all they have. So why can’t a brand new television (earphones included so it didn’t annoy other patients) be plugged in yet millions of cheap phone chargers are plugged in every day yet they haven’t been pat tested and it’s those that are high risk of causing fires! Surely if that is the law for electrical items to be pat tested before use then all other electrical equipment used around hospital needs to be pat tested too , including phone chargers!

It is an absolute disgrace to treat the elderly often confined to bed like this and even more an absolute scandal charging those prices to watch patientline television whilst they are sick!

If a rule is a rule then by all means surely it must stand for every plug that’s using an electrical power point in hospital. I’m taking this further and contacting the press if needed! It’s absolutely shocking to treat the vulnerable & elderly in this manner , having a television license at home should entitle them to watch television for free while staying in hospital yet prices are up to £80 for a week of normal television channels and if they want extra then it’s more. Most elderly don’t even receive £80 a week to live on never mind paying it to watch a television whilst sick! If one plug gets stopped from using power sockets then I’m afraid that rule must stand for every plug using power points within hospital buildings that haven’t been pat tested! 

Your sincerely 

(Daughter of an inpatient)