Table of Contents
- Accusations Against Hospital Management
- Charger Vending Machines in Hospitals
- Revenue Sharing with Trusts
- Political Reaction
- Joos' Charitable Initiative
Hospital administrators have been criticized for profiting from long waiting times by offering portable phone chargers for rent in A&E departments.
Over 100 hospitals have installed these power-bank vending machines.
NHS administrators have been accused of profiting from long A&E waiting times by installing vending machines that rent out portable phone chargersCredit: Facebook
The machines enable patients, visitors, and staff to rent mobile chargers for an hourly fee.
These chargers are provided by the private company Joos Power and involve no installation or maintenance costs for the hospitals.
However, some trusts receive a ten percent share of the revenue, which generally ranges from £1 to £3 per hour.
The maximum daily charge is typically around £5.
The machines require a £30 deposit, which is fully forfeited if the charger is not returned within two days.
Last month, approximately 129,000 patients waited over four hours in A&E.
Last night, senior Conservative MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke expressed his concerns: “I would be extremely worried if the NHS is profiting from the prolonged wait times in A&E.”
Manchester’s Royal Hospital rents out 180 chargers each month and anticipates earning £750 annually.
London’s Imperial College Healthcare reported 500 chargers rented in the first five weeks of the program's launch and is expected to receive £1,500 through Joos’ Charitable Giving Scheme.
Joos stated that hospitals are expected to utilize any generated funds for patient care or to cover electricity expenses.
Additionally, they noted that the system “relieves staff from handling charging requests” and minimizes fire hazards “related to unauthorized cables being connected to open sockets.”
Approximately 129,000 patients waited longer than four hours in A&E last monthCredit: Alamy
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are hospitals renting out phone chargers?
Hospitals are renting out phone chargers to provide convenience for patients and visitors during long waiting times in A&E, while also generating additional revenue that can be used for patient care or operational costs.
How much does it cost to rent a charger?
The rental cost for a charger typically ranges from £1 to £3 per hour, with a maximum daily charge of around £5.
What happens if the charger is not returned?
If the charger is not returned within two days, the £30 deposit will be fully forfeited.
How is the revenue from the charger rentals used?
Hospitals are expected to use the revenue generated from charger rentals for patient care or to cover electricity costs.
