Inpatients at Grantham Hospital can now watch television and make telephone calls free of charge.

United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust has agreed a package with its entertainment provider Hospedia to supply all bedside terminals at Grantham - as well as Boston and Lincoln hospitals - with free Freeview TV and calls to UK landlines and mobiles.

Premium channels will still be available at an additional charge to patients.

The move follows the trust's 'difficult decision' last week to suspend all patient visiting due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The only exceptions to this are that one birthing partner can attend the maternity department and parents who are not showing symptoms of infection can visit their children.

Any other visits are by exception only and typically will be granted on compassionate grounds agreed in advance with the nurse in charge of the ward.

If granted, the majority of these visits will be taking place between 6pm and 7pm.

No visitors under 16 will be allowed.

A trust spokesman said: "We can appreciate this may be frustrating for the family and friends of patients, but we can assure that it is required at this time.

"We hope by providing access to these facilities for free it will provide some comfort to our patients and their families at this time."