WE were disappointed to read your article (Fury at the cost of calling hospital patient's bedside phone) on the Hereford Times website.

As the provider of patient media services at Hereford County Hospital we are committed to improving the patient experience through the use of our latest touch-screen bedside units that offer patients a range of services including TV, movies on demand, telephone, and internet connectivity.

These units were installed by Hospedia at no cost to the hospital or to the NHS. We recognise that charges for long incoming calls can be high, which is why there is a pre-recorded message informing all callers of the charges associated with continuing their call to the bedside, and this is also why we offer free unlimited outgoing calls from the bedside to UK landlines (01, 02 and 03 numbers, 24 hours a day) so patients can stay in touch with friends and relatives.

Meanwhile, as part of our commitment to improving the patient experience we also provide free daytime TV in children's wards, free morning TV in all wards and free access to hospital radio at all times, where available.

IAN FREEMAN Hospedia Ltd Slough