Hospital mobile phone ban could be lifted
8:10am Thursday 8th January 2009 in News By Cherry Thomas
A BAN on mobile phones being used at the Royal Bolton Hospital could be lifted after new guidelines on their use were published.
The hospital says it will examine new Department of Health advice, which says health trusts should let patients use mobiles, as long as they do not interfere with equipment, privacy or cause a nuisance.
Previous guidance said phones should not be switched on or used in clinical areas, including wards, unless there is good reason.
Heather Edwards, head of communications at the Royal Bolton, said: “We fully understand how important it is for patients and relatives to keep in close contact.
“Our current policy goes a long way to supporting that — at one time mobile phones were completely banned from the buildings.
“We've always been mindful, however, that mobile phones can affect privacy and equipment and can be a nuisance to other patients and staff.
“We will be looking carefully at the new guidance before deciding whether to make any changes to our policy.”
Current policy prevents the use of mobiles in virtually all areas of the hospital. The new guidance, from Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw, was issued yesterday.
He said: “Close support and comfort from loved ones when you are poorly in hospital is essential.
“Mobiles phones are commonplace in everyday life and people have told us that they’d like to be able to use their phones more in hospital.
“That’s why we’re keen to encourage sensible use where it is safe to do so.”
The move to increase the use of mobile phones comes after private company, Patientline, which provides TV, telephone and Internet access to patients, was criticised in 2007 for high prices and high-pressure salesmen. Cllr Andy Morgan, health scrutiny committee chairman and the Conservative’s health spokesman, said: “We backed a review of Patientline because we thought patients were being ripped off.
“If Patientline hadn’t priced itself out of the market there would be no need for mobile phones. We welcome the news, to a certain extent, that the guidelines on mobile phones have been relaxed.
“The privacy of patients needs to be looked at though and we urge the hospital to urgently review its policy.”
