PATIENTS are being charged "exorbitant" prices for telephone calls in Glasgow hospitals, according to an MSP who is demanding action to reduce charges.

PATIENTS are being charged "exorbitant" prices for telephone calls in Glasgow hospitals, according to an MSP who is demanding action to reduce charges.

A private firm providing bedside phones for patients at Glasgow Royal Infirmary charges almost 50p per minute for incoming calls from family.

Anniesland MSP Bill Butler said he has received a number of complaints and has called on Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon to review the charges.

Hospedia have the contract for phone and TV rental at the hospital. Their charges include 49p per minute for incoming peak time calls and 39p for off peak.

At the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the Queen Mother's Maternity patients are charged 25p per minute, by another firm Premier.

Mr Butler said: "Any contract to supply in-patient services should not be seen primarily as a licence to print money but regarded as an essential service to the sick and vulnerable.

"Many patients are confined to their beds and unable to use mobiles or BT payphones so these bedhead' phones provide their only link with loved ones."

He added: "I am extremely concerned at the exorbitant cost of calls."

The charges for incoming calls means customers would be charged twice, with the caller paying their standard charge on heir home or mobile phone bill and the patient being charged to receive the call at either 39p or 49p per minute.

The call charges are more than ten times the standard BT daytime peak charges, of 4.5p per minute with a 1.5p per minute evening charge.

Mr Butler added: "At Glasgow Royal Infirmary calls cost an outrageous 49p per minute, putting them on a par with premium phone lines."

Patients are charged 10p per minute with a 20p connection call for out-going calls.

The health secretary said while it was for health boards to decide contracts she would look into Mr Butler's concerns further.