NHS trusts urged to rethink mobile policies

NHS trusts are being urged to rethink their policies on mobile phone use, due to public concerns over the high cost of bedside telephone services, such as those provided by Patientline and Premier

The call comes from Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums, which argues that patients and the public should be offered the choice of on-site facilities or controlled mobile phone use. PPI forums are the organisations established by the government to represent patients and the public in health decisions.

For a number of years, both private and NHS establishments have prohibited the use of mobile phones in hospitals, based on concerns that patients’ lives could be put at risk, due to electro-magnetic interference.

However research by bodies including the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency (MHRA) has found that such a ban is not necessary, and in 2005 MRHA said there is no evidence to suggest mobile telephones present a hazard when used in public areas within hospitals.

The PPI Forums say that based on the guidance from the MRHA NHS trusts operating a ban continuing to issue a total ban on mobile phone usage need to take a fresh approach. They call for "reasonable guidelines" for the use of mobile phones in hospital, which would "minimise disturbance to other patients and staff and maximise patient choice".

The organisation says that as a result of its work a number of NHS trust hospitals have begun changing their policies on mobile phone usage.

Mid Staffordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, for instance, has invited members of its local PPI Forum to participate in the production of a policy allowing the patient choice between on-site telephone services and their mobile phones.

Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust have now stated that mobile phones can be used in public areas, away from medical equipment. The Countess of Chester NHS Trust and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust have also adopted similar policies on mobile phone use.

Terrence Deighton, chair of Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust Patient and Public Involvement Forum said, “We want to see all NHS Trusts adopting a sensible approach to the use of mobile phones in hospitals, which alleviates the burden of cost from the patient and their families."

Deighton added: "The Ofcom report commented that in some cases there was evidence that an unnamed provider had been exerting pressure on the Trusts to maintain a total ban on the use of mobile phones, well we as patients and the public would like to put pressure on NHS Trusts into giving us a real choice”.

Forums have been looking for alternatives after receiving complaints from patients and their friends and family about the high charges for calls to hospital patients (in most cases 49p per minute and 39p off-peak). Following complaints from patients, Gateshead Hospitals PPI Forum launched their own investigation to identify if patients’ best interests were being served.

Dorothy Henley, Chair of Gateshead Hospitals PPI Forum, commented: “Our investigation quickly highlighted the fact that the Patientline facilities appeared overly expensive to use – in particular friends or family calling a patient in hospital were discovering large charges on their phone bills.”

Maureen Horn, Chair of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospital PPI Forum, “We have been investigating concerns associated with bedside services for a long time now.”

Links

Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency report on mobile phones

Ofcom report on price of telephone call in hospital