Hospitals relax ban on mobile phones

The ban on using mobile phones in hospital is to be partially lifted.

New guidance has been issued by the agency responsible for checking the safety of medical equipment after studies found there is only a tiny risk of interference.

Doctors at the British Medical Association's annual meeting called for the ban to be lifted as the risk was minimal and it would help doctors to work more efficiently if they had access to mobiles on the wards. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said hospitals should delegate staff to manage how mobile technology is used. Hospitals were also told to designate areas where staff and visitors can use phones safely.

Research has shown that radios used by police and paramedics are more likely to cause problems.