PATIENTS have given controversial pay televisions the thumbs down in the first test of opinion on North-East hospital wards.

The introduction of bedside pay-as-you-watch TVs at Darlington Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of North Durham and Bishop Auckland General Hospital infuriated the biggest health union, Unison.

Patients are charged £3.50 a day to watch a bedside TV, although communal rooms for watching free television are still available.

At the time of their launch Liz Twist, head of health for the North-East region of Unison said: "We would be concerned that the less well off are going to lose out."

A survey of 600 patients treated by the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has confirmed that some patients are put off by the cost.

While the survey is overwhelmingly positive about the care provided, the bedside TVs are one of the main patient bugbears.

Concern was also expressed at the annoyance factor caused by multiple televisions, particularly when patients failed to use the headphones, and the fact that the screens, which carry advertising, are always pointed towards other patients.

Six comments were recorded from patients unhappy at the cost of watching bedside television.

One said: "I was bored as I'm on benefits and didn't have enough money to spare for the TV."

Another patient said he was concerned at "paying £3.50 for your TV . . . I've been bored and miserable."

A third patient said: "Don't pay for TV . . . they should all be free on the NHS. This is not America."

Other concerns included a call for longer visiting hours and criticism of the quality and choice of food at the Durham hospital. But most patients praised the care they received and in some cases said that the service provided could not be improved.

One patient said: "In a nutshell, in spite of all the carping . . . we still have the best health service in the world and free at the point of delivery."

The County Durham trust said the TVs were popular with patients.

All NHS hospitals are due to have bedside pay TVs as part of Government plans.