A CLEVELEYS pensioner has described a new service at Blackpool Victoria Hospital as "a rip-off".

Jack Robinson, of Redcar Avenue, has been visiting his sick wife in hospital for the last three weeks and is extremely concerned about Patientline which provides telephone and TV services in hospitals throughout the country.

The 79-year-old said: "How many folk are aware that installing Patientline will entail a charge of 50 pence per minute to phone patients direct? Patients may also be charged between £1.42 and £3.50 per day just to watch television.

"The so-called service hasn't yet reached my wife's ward but it is coming. I think it is a complete rip-off and am disgusted by it. They are taking advantage of the situation and give you no option but to use the service as you are stuck in the hospital."

A spokesperson for the hospital commented: "The idea behind Patientline was to enhance the services already on offer and extend patient choice.

"Patients still have access to public phones in the wards and can watch television in the day rooms at no cost."