BORED patients have been left staring at the walls at Victoria Hospital because of a lack of TVs.

Two West Fifers contacted the Press this week to complain about the situation, which they believe could affect recovery times.

Now NHS Fife has pledged to install bedhead TVs into the Kirkcaldy hospital's new wing as a "priority".

Brian Pirnham (75), of Mitchell Walk in Rosyth, was admitted to the hospital on 30th April for treatment for a lung disease.

He said, "The conditions in that so-called ward! You can't even have a bit of music in your earphones and there was television. It's just silence.

"You'd have to go through it to believe it. It was like going back to the 1900s." He also complained that windows could not be opened and said a nurse told him his ward was normally a storeroom.

Mr Pirnham, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, added, "I was taken to a ward and there were no blankets on the bed - people had dressing gowns or jackets on the bed.

"I was amazed when I saw people with their coats on them." Hazel Allison (63), from Cochrane Avenue in Inverkeithing, was admitted to the coronary care unit at the Vic in January after suffering a heart attack and cardiac arrest.

She described her experience as "soul-destroying".

She said, "As for the rooms they are totally soul-destroying as there are no TVs or radios ... you have to sit 24/7 and look at four walls, which doesn't aid your recovery.

"Something needs to be done and quick because as far as I know this is the hospital's policy and it isn't good enough." Caroline Inwood, director of nursing for the operational division, said, "NHS Fife appreciates that a stay in hospital can be a frustrating time for some patients and it can be difficult for them to stay occupied. "We have been carrying out a consultation process which included identifying what would be the best television system for the hospital and speaking to staff on the different wards to ensure that televisions would be placed in the most appropriate and beneficial areas for patients." All day rooms at the hospital have been fitted with new wide-screen televisions. The children's ward, maternity, diagnostic suite and A&E are using existing televisions and some new ones have been fitted.

Ms Inwood continued, "The installation of bedhead televisions into the new wing at Victoria Hospital is due to commence shortly and should be completed by mid-July. "Priority has been given to place televisions in rooms for patients who require isolation during their stay and patients who are attending for treatments that require them to be in the same place for long periods, for example, renal dialysis." She also said two shops in the hospital sold newspapers, magazines and books to help keep patients and visitors occupied, while trolleys of items from the shops visit wards regularly.

Responding to Mr Pirnham's complaint about a lack of blankets for patients, she finished, "All wards are fully equipped with enough pillows and blankets for patients. "If any patient ever feels cold or any way uncomfortable during their stay we would ask that they let staff know so that issues can be addressed quickly.

"Our patient relations department has not been contacted in relation to these issues and we would encourage all patients to make contact with us at the time of their stay in order that issues can be addressed." Patients in the Victoria Hospital's new wing are unable to open the windows because of 'modification' work.

Ms Inwood said, "All windows currently comply with appropriate British standards, however, some of the windows in the new wing are undergoing modification by Consort and Balfour Beatty Workplace which means they will remain in the permanently closed position until NHS Fife is fully satisfied that this modification is complete. "Rooms in the new wing allow patients to have some control over their own surroundings as they are fitted with a thermostat that will allow the occupant to adjust the heating levels within parameters that are appropriate for the particular clinical environment." Work on the windows is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.