PATIENTS have been barred from accessing a free internet service from their beds at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Although free Wi-Fi has now been introduced at the hospital, it is not available within the ward areas, due to an existing contract relating to the bedside entertainment systems.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Patients have to pay at least £10 to access the internet through these systems, which are provided by communications firm Hospedia.

Campaigner Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group, said: “I’m not really bothered about people having the internet from public areas, because many patients are stuck in bed and would love to have 24-hour contact with their loved ones.

“They are the most important people and I think it’s appalling that this contract means the free Wi- Fi will be blocked in the wards.”

Jonathan Wood, deputy chief executive at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said inpatients can access the free Wi-Fi in public areas and added: “The trust and Hospedia are partners in a contract, which sees Hospedia invest significantly to deliver technology benefits to both the trust and our patients over a number of years.”

A spokesman said discussions are taking place with Hospedia with the aim of providing Wi-Fi on wards “in the near future”, but did not say whether this would be free.

The current bedside systems charge £10 per day for a package that includes access to the internet, TV channels, movies and phone calls, with longer packages giving better value for money.