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Fed up patient launches campaign to end rip off hospital TV fees from her sickbed

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A patient is trying to start a revolution from her hospital bed to help people who cannot afford rip off TV fees whilst they are stricken.

Rebeka ODonnell has been in hospital for more than 80 days and is still there, but to watch television shes so paid £200 so far.

However, despite the expense she has been helping other patients on her ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham who are less able to afford the £5 daily charge.

Woman wants to start a revolution from her hospital bed over rip off TV fees Picture: Supplied METROGRAB

Rebeka ODonnell is leading a campaign to make hospital TV cheaper from her hospital bed (Picture: Supplied)

The TVs are operated by private company Premier Telesolutions and Rebeka is distraught seeing so many patients unable to afford the fee.

She said: It is so upsetting seeing so many elderly and lonely people who cannot afford to watch a bit of TV.

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Ive been in hospital for over 80 days this year and there was a time that I could not afford the TV and it was so boring and lonely.

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Ive ended up paying over £200 for television and it is galling to know the hospital does not even see any of the profits, it is just wrong that people are being ripped off when they are at their lowest and most vulnerable, in a hospital bed.

With the extortionate price of parking at hospitals there are patients whose family and friends cant afford to visit them, it just seems wrong in so many ways.

Woman wants to start a revolution from her hospital bed over rip off TV fees Picture: Supplied METROGRAB

The Premier Telesolutions vending machine is broken forcing patients to fork out more money (Picture: Supplied)

I have cried so much for people in here and want to start fundraising so televisions can be put in association rooms, and I when I am better I will campaign to stop patients being ripped off, there needs to be a revolution.

She added: The vending machines where patients can buy £5 TV vouchers are always broken but the minimum amount you can pay for no the television is £10, which is another way to get more money out of people.

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Rebeka, aged 39, has had the year from hell after being admitted to hospital with stomach cramps only to catch an infection which saw her confided to bed for 46 days at the start of the year. However, after being released she is now back in hospital after an MRI scan detected more yet problems.

She said today: I have been in hospital for 41 days now with an infection in my bones, my life has been ruined to be honest, but would feel so much better if I could help those around me.

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And if my campaign could make someone high up in Government to pay for free TV then millions of patients every year would have their hospital experience improved.

Woman wants to start a revolution from her hospital bed over rip off TV fees Picture: Supplied METROGRAB

Rebeka ODonnells bedside entertainment system which often she cannot afford to watch (Picture: Supplied)

Woman wants to start a revolution from her hospital bed over rip off TV fees Picture: Supplied METROGRAB

Rebeka ODonnell described the communal rooms as depressing at Birminghams QE Hospital

It breaks my heart and Ive cried so much over these patients, if I was strong enough Id go round and talk to them all but Im too sick and my immune systems too low but Im going to work on making people aware about the extortionate prices for hospital TV and parking.

She added: Ive spent all this time in here and I dont want it to be for no reason, I need to make a difference because it is no wonder so many people are giving up in here.

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The communal rooms are just so depressing, if there were TVs in those we could all watch programs together.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital told Metro.co.uk: Premier Telesolutions is a private company which made the investment to install the bedside equipment, something which the hospital could not afford to do, and therefore had the right to set the prices.

The hospital has recently installed wifi which patients can use to watch entertainment on their phones and tablets.

FILE PICTURE - GV of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. A man blasted himself in the groin after picking up a friend's sawn-off shotgun to see what it was like to handle a weapon. See NTI story NTISHOT. Michael Harris was injured when the gun went off accidentally. He was found "doubled up" in pain outside Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The 37-year-old had pellets removed from his groin, Birmingham Crown Court heard. But his suffering did not end there - because he was jailed for five years having previously admitted possessing a prohibited firearm.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham (Picture: SWNS)

Premier Telesolutions have not responded to requests for comment.

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However, the Gloucestershire firms website, said: Over the past two decades Premier Telesolutions has worked hard to develop a range of technologically advanced products and services.

We are confident that we can meet the unique requirements of the majority of healthcare environments.

Our products have been designed to help combat infection by reducing the use of communal TVs and phone units and include special features to ensure easy cleaning.

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