PATIENTS at Southmead Hospital will soon be able to enjoy televisions at their bedside thanks to charity funding donated this week.

The Southmead Hospital Charity has provided £500,000 for over 1,000 televisions to be installed next to every patient bed at the hospital, each with access to around 25 Freeview channels, all free of charge.

Jane Ibbunson, head of fundraising, said: “Southmead Hospital Charity is proud to be able to provide the £500,000 funding for this project as we know it will make such a difference to the experience of patients staying at Southmead Hospital.

“Patients have said for a long time that they would like some form of TV entertainment system that is free to use. If patients feel relaxed and have means to distract themselves it can speed up their recovery.

“This is the largest investment that the charity has made in recent years to improve and enhance patient’s stay in the hospital and we are pleased to be involved in such a worthwhile project.”

Installation of the televisions, which began before Christmas, should be complete by the end of March. 

Gill Brook, head of patient experience at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “It was always the intention to have televisions available when the Brunel Building opened last year. However, due to circumstances beyond our control we were unable to achieve this prior to opening.

“We are so grateful to Southmead Hospital Charity for providing the funding. The single rooms are without doubt a fantastic benefit of the new hospital but they can be isolating for patients, especially those who are with us for a long time and those who don’t have regular visitors. Feedback about the new televisions has been very positive.”

Patient Pauline Littleboy from Wick said: “I can watch all my favourite programmes and when I don’t have visitors it makes the time go quicker.”