Hospitals lift ban on mobile phones
HOSPITAL patients will be able to use mobile phones after rules were relaxed yesterday.
Health minister Ben Bradshaw is advising health trusts to let patients use mobiles as long as they do not interfere with equipment, privacy or cause a nuisance.
Current regulations ban mobile phones from being switched on or used in clinical areas, including wards, unless there are good reasons to do so. They are also aimed at preventing people taking “inappropriate” photos and videos with camera phones.
It is understood the new policy can be implemented immediately, but it is up to individual health trusts to decide how to proceed.
Mr Bradshaw said the policy change recognised that mobile phones were now commonplace.
He said: “Close support and comfort from loved ones when you are poorly in hospital is essential.
Close support and comfort from loved ones when you are poorly in hospital is essential.
“Mobiles phones are commonplace these days and people have told us that they’d like to be able to use their phones more in hospital to keep in touch. That’s why we’re keen to encourage sensible use in NHS hospitals where it is safe to do so, in addition to other services offered in hospitals such as bedside payphones, TV and internet.”
The Government consulted the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which helps decide on the safety of medicines and devices.
Nigel Edwards, director of policy from the NHS Confederation which represents managers in the health service, said that any change to policy should take account of patients’ need for privacy and the obligation to make stays in hospitals less worrying.
But he added: “The last thing we want to do is to make hospitals more stressful than they need to be because of the noise of annoying ringtones or the kind of loud phone conversations that already plague much of everyday life.
“Doctors and nurses doing their rounds should not have to constantly wait for patients to finish phone calls and night-times on wards should not be disturbed by the chirruping of text messages.”
The relaxation follows similar moves in Scottish hospitals, which are not affected by Department of Health guidance.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The total ban on the use of mobile communication devices in Scottish NHS hospitals has already been relaxed, in accordance with guidance issued in February 2008.
“A total ban on the use of mobile phones in healthcare premises is no longer considered appropriate.
“It is, however, essential that mobiles are switched off when in proximity to critical care or life support medical equipment. It is advised that NHS boards should actively manage the use of mobile phones in their premises.”
