Hospitals told not to ban mobiles
Hospitals need not impose blanket bans on mobile phones, regulators
say.
In a statement published on their website, the Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have acknowledged that
mobiles “are in everyday use and provide a practical means of
communication for people”. It also stated that mobiles posed “only a
small risk of interference” with medical equipment and that their use
should only be restricted where specialist equipment is used, such as in
intensive care and specialist baby units.
But Maria Nyberg, policy manager at the NHS Confederation, which
represents NHS trusts, said that — as well as considering the MHRA
guidance — there were other factors to take into account.
“Mobile phones can often be intrusive and technological advances mean
that increasingly phones have cameras and recording devices.
“Patients have the right to a peaceful environment and to be treated
with dignity and respect at all times during their encounter with NHS
services.”
MHRA said it was introducing the guidance after a series of enquiries
from NHS staff and patients, including criticisms of the costliness of
many hospital patient-telephone systems.
Source: bjhc&im September 2006
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