Patients staying at Oxfordshire's major hospitals will soon have bedside access to television, phones and e-mail.

The technology is being installed next year and by 2003, when the Government's NHS Plan states all major hospitals must have bedside phones and televisions, patients in 1,500 beds will be able to keep in contact with family and friends.

The Patient Power facilities will be set up at Oxford's John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals, and The Horton, Banbury. Although the Radcliffe Infirmary, in Oxford city centre, is due to close, a smaller system will be put in its wards.

As well as being beneficial to patients, hospital staff will be able to use the equipment to post hospital information circulate food menus, and patient surveys. It will cut down on work for nurses, who spend a lot of time taking messages and transporting portable pay phones around wards.

Head of facilities Trevor Payne said: "We're currently doing a feasibility study and what we're trying to do is get installation in January.

"We're looking at which beds to install the system on at the moment. Some beds won't be appropriate, like intensive care, where patients are very ill, but the majority of beds will have it.

"We're planning to build the Patient Power system into the new buildings at the JR and Churchill, but until then the RI will have some sort of system, but it may not be the 'all singing, all dancing' one."

Mr Payne said children's wards would be included in the project, although managers were considering ways to prevent youngsters sitting in their and beds watching television all day.

A supplier - to be chosen next month - will install the new televisions, phones and computers for free, but patients will have to buy 'smart' cards from the company to use the equipment.

Mr Payne said: "Patients will be able to receive calls free.

"Any unused credits won't get lost, but will be added to a pool for patients who may not be able to afford the system."