Peter Freeman from Upchurch was charged 38p per minute, 20p of which went to Hospicom which is supplied by HTS Ltd.

Mr Freeman said the phone company could charge him what they like but neither he nor his daughter were given any indication as to the cost.

A spokesman for HTS Ltd said patients are given leaflets informing them.

Clarify costs

Kevin Parker, managing director of HTS Ltd, said: "We are significantly the cheapest provider of incoming calls anywhere in the country.

"The rate we charge is in user guides and leaflets throughout the hospital and on the bed's system as well."

But Mr Parker added his company were in the process of making stickers to attach to bedside phones to clarify the costs.

Mr Freeman's daughter, Katherine, was rushed to hospital after complications with her pregnancy.

'Bigger issues'

She said: "When you're in hospital you're worried about bigger issues than asking about the cost of a phone.

"I bought a phone card but realised it was costing me 10p a minute so thought it would be cheaper for the family to ring me."

Mr Freeman said he was "horrified" when he received his latest phone bill and found that 86 minutes talking to his daughter had cost him �28.

The remaining 18p per call charged to Mr Freeman came from his own call provider, Housecall, who refunded him �10 when he contacted them with concerns over the cost of ringing the hospital.