Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care

Fund free TV for all patients in NHS hospitals.

Closed 51 signatures

What the petition asks

After a recent stay in hospital it cost me £15.80 to watch tv for 2 days, which is wholly unfair if not extortionate. I would like you to debate banning this charge for channels that are free elsewhere.

Luckily I was able to afford paying it (despite the unfairness) but I was the only person on my ward to be watching because the other patients weren't in a position to pay for 1 reason or another, how can it be right that when people are vulnerable they are able to be exorbitantly charged for something that is free (as long as you have a licence, which is a fraction of the cost of this system) at home at home

Timeline

28 Apr 2020 Petition opened for signatures
28 Oct 2020 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 51
Status Closed
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 28 Apr 2020
Closed 28 Oct 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.