Watching TV in hospital for a week could cost you the same as an average Sky package.

We asked each of Greater Manchester’s NHS trusts how much a patient would have to pay for just one day’s worth of television.

For those staying on most wards, the answer was £7.90. And to add movies or sport the price goes up even more.

The majority of hospitals in the region contract Hospedia to provide their entertainment services, which sets its own prices nationally.

A standard Sky entertainment package with Movies and Kids bundles will cost you more than £40 a month - the same price as a 'TV, Movies and More' pass for seven days on the Hospedia TV service provided at many of the region's hospitals.

Here’s what it could cost you to watch TV at your local hospital:

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust:

Services at Stepping Hill Hospital are currently provided by Hospedia, however the Trust says this is soon to be reviewed.

All wards have free TV channels 1-5 between 8am and 12noon.

Outside of these hours, TV is £7.90 and TV & Movies costs £9.90.

The Treehouse Children’s Unit has free children’s TV channels all day.

Outgoing calls from patients are also free.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust:

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Once again, Hospedia provides the use of bedside televisions and phones for patients at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary.

It costs £7.90 per day for television or £9.90 for television and movies.

For a three-day TV pass, it will cost £19.90, or £24.90 for three days of TV & Movies.

Channels 1-5 are free to watch from 8am-12noon, and from 7am-7pm on the children’s ward.

Patients have free access to radio, as well as free phone calls to 01, 02, 03 numbers and UK mobiles.

There is no charge for TV services at Leigh Infirmary or Wrightington Hospital.

The Christie NHS Trust:

All patient entertainment services at The Christie can be used by patients free of charge, which is predominantly funded by The Christie charity.

In October 2017, the Trust rolled out a new digital entertainment system for in-patients where an electronic tablet, case and headphones are provided for every in-patient bed.

These can be used to access all major Freeview television and radio channels.

This year Christie bosses plan to extend the service to out-patient and day case patient areas. They also hope to introduce video on demand services and access to the internet.

The Trust also provides free wi-fi for patients who can connect to the internet with their own devices.

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust:

(Image: Daily Mirror)

The TV and entertainment system for patients at Salford Royal is provided by Hospedia.

All patients can access free calls to landlines and mobiles, free radio (including hospital radio – Northern Air) and free television (channels 1-5) from 8am-12pm.

The cost of entertainment packages are:

TV for 1 day: £7.90

TV & Movies for 1 day: £9.90

TV for 3 days: £19.90

TV & Movies for 3 days: £24.90

Patients and visitors can also access up to six hours of Salford Royal managed wi-fi per day free of charge.

BMI The Alexandra Hospital:

A spokesman for the privately-run hospital confirmed there is no charge for TV or wi-fi services at the Cheadle site.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust:

Hospedia provide services at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The prices are as follows:

TV – 1 Day £7.90

TV – 3 Days £19.90

TV & Movies – 1 Day £9.90

TV & Movies – 3 Days £24.90

Terrestrial channels such as 1-5 are free 8am-12pm

Most channels are free on the children’s ward between 8am and 8pm.

Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust:

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Bedside TV, radio and phone services are provided by Hospedia at The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital and Fairfield General Hospital in Bury. This service gives free outgoing use of the phone for a 24-hour period, free use of the radio for 24 hours and free use of the TV between 8am and 12 noon.

All of the children’s wards have free phone, TV and radio use between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

Outside of these hours, the cost for a one-day TV & Movies pass is £9.90 and £7.90 for just television.

A three-day TV & Movies pass is £24.90 and a three-day TV pass is £19.90.

Free wi-fi is also available across the majority of our hospital sites for the use of patients and visitors, the Trust just asks that they use the service sensibly.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust):

At Wythenshawe Hospital, television is free from 8am until 12noon for channels 1-5 and from 7am-7pm on the children’s wards. Further viewing can be purchased outside these hours from Hospedia.

On the central site, which includes the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary, services are also operated by Hospedia.

Free TV is provided between 8am and 4pm on the adult wards and 7am until 9pm on the children’s wards.

Outside these hours patients are charged to watch. Any unused credit is refunded by Hospedia where payment has been made electronically.

What Hospedia says:

(Image: MEN MEDIA)

A spokesman for Hospedia said that its pricing structure comes from a TV and phone provision model that was mandated by the Government in 2000 under ‘Patient Power Project’.

The stipulation being that the services, hardware purchase and installation and all operating costs, including a 24/7 call centre, should be borne by the provider, without cost or risk to the tax payer or the NHS.

They added: “Under this model, Hospedia installs, services, cleans, maintains, fixes and provides a customer contact centre to support in the region of 60,000 bedside units in more than 160 sites across the NHS.

“Free TV (5 channels) is provided from 8am to 12pm on adult wards and from 7am to 7pm on children’s wards.

“In addition, patients can make free calls to 01, 02, 03 landlines, mobiles and access free radio, 24 hours per day. There is also self-care content available at many sites.

“In order to be flexible and offer the best value possible, there is a range of multi-day package options that reduce the daily price for TV.

“For patients who want to watch a only few hours per day, the cost can be as little as £2.50.

“For those that are due to stay in hospital for longer periods of time, for example, the cost of TV comes down to £5.00 per day for when purchased as a 7 day package (25+ channels) and less for longer stays.”

Hospedia’s current price list:

TV, Movies & more, 1 day: £9.90

TV, Movies & more, 3 days: £24.90

TV & BT Sport, 1 day: £10.90

TV, 1 day: £7.90

TV, 3 days: £19.90

TV & BT Sport, 3 days: £25.90

TV, 7 days: £34.90

TV, Movies & more, 7 days: £39.90

TV, Movies & more, 14 days: £49.90

TV, Movies & more, 30 days: £59.90

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