“THEY’VE got patients over a barrel.”

That’s the view of one older people’s representative in Dorset as a campaign moves against ‘excessive fees’ charged for bedside TV and phone calls in hospitals.

PatientPower is planning protests outside hospitals in reaction to Hospedia – formerly called Patientline – which runs the services in Bournemouth and Poole, raising prices.

It says that it has “sneaked in” an increase that means patients now pay £7.50 a day for TV, games, radio and movies.

It also claimed that a 30-minute phone call cost more than £15.

PatientPower said that over-65s in particular would be discriminated against, as they occupied two-thirds of hospital beds and depended on the services the most.

Dennis Blackler, chairman of Age UK in Poole, said more competition was needed.

Stressing that his view was personal, he said: “£7.50 a day is £50 a week, which is high. I know they’ve got to make money but sometimes they go over the top.

“People are in hospital and don’t want the extra expense. I think they’ve got the patients over a barrel.”

PatientPower said its campaign had the backing of Age UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Patients’ Association.

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients’ Association, said: “With car parking charges, inflated shop prices and in particular the exorbitant cost of some hospital phones, the cost mounts very quickly, making a mockery of the NHS being ‘free at the point of care’.”

Mike Hobday, head of policy at Macmillan, said the charges were “just another tax on the most sick and vulnerable”.

Hospedia said TV was available from £1.50 per day for long stays and the £7.50 covered a premium package including unlimited TV, phone calls, internet, games and films.

It said it was moving towards ‘a field-based operation’ resulting in fewer staff being employed and it was in talks with trusts regarding taking responsibility for cleaning of TV and phone units.

A spokesman added: “We survey patients continuously and 80 per cent of our customers feel our services provide value for money.”

A spokesman for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals said the Department of Health agreed the contract with Hospedia nationally.

Poole Hospital said Hospedia’s system was optional and that in many wards mobile phones were permitted.