Mobile phones in Hospitals!

[Adlon57]

I was in hospital for a week and noticed the number of 'mobile phones' that patients had. A lot of the older or not phone friendly patients that had been left devices by concerned relatives or friends for communication to them, in their confused state they did not know or were not in a fit state to use them. As they blared their various calling signals, confused patients furiously trying to figure out these "technological marvels", some on monitors, I noticed appreciable rises in their heart rates [not exactly helping their general health] as they tried to sort as their concerned relatives/friends attempted for communication? Eventually losing patience altogether, although various medical scans making very similar noises did not help proceedings? When some of the concerned patients eventually came for a visit, they TRY to explain these communication devices, sometimes the patients having become in effect 'phone communication deaf' despite being explained these were clearly beyond their mental range, usually phones not exactly simple in their usage anyway! Would a member of hospital staff or equivalent be able explicably or try to anyway these ways of communication, this person would be specifically there for this purpose, is phone friendly able to, [the phone friendly man/woman] in some cases be able to explain or advise the patients that the next time their relatives/friends are visiting to get something more user friendly, not top of the range, battery charging explained as well, etc? These patients are mostly 20th century friendly who cannot comprehend 21st century technology! These devices are clearly there to help the patients communicate with their relatives/friends usually out of visiting hours surely some way could be found to help them to do so?

[piglette]

At the hospital I was in we had volunteer helpers who helped people out. I am not sure what the situation is at the moment with Covid of course.

[Adlon57 in reply to piglette]

Most of the time it was fitter younger nearby patients who helped the confused patients. That was from Wed 26th May to Wed 2nd June I was in hospital. No volunteer helpers here!🥴

[piglette in reply to Adlon57]

I think they may be banned at the moment because of Covid.

[Adlon57 in reply to piglette]

True, but I believe there were never any volunteer helpers before COVID, BUT hopefully I am wrong there, in Northern Ireland🤞

[piglette in reply to Adlon57]

That is possible, but I am surprised.

[Adlon57 in reply to piglette]

Unfortunately the state of the NHS over here, on strike in the end of 2019?🥴

[piglette in reply to Adlon57]

I have heard some frightening stories about waiting lists too.

[Adlon57]

One in four people on NHS waiting lists, over here, I was lucky they did a full MOT on myself!👍