New Department of Health guidance asks Trusts to issue clear guidance on the use of mobile phones. Some of their recommendation are here:

Mobile phone use - Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Do – carry out a thorough risk assessment to determine where mobile phones may and may not be used,
• Do – make sure you have a written policy on mobile phone usage, that is readily available for patients and visitors,
• Do – ensure there is a named official to take responsibility for the policy,
• Do – make all staff aware of the contents of the policy and make it easily accessible to them,
• Do – empower staff to challenge the misuse of mobiles on the site,
• Do – update the policy periodically according to changes in the healthcare environment and advances in technology
• Do – clearly designate specific areas where mobile phones can be used,
• Do – make it clear that mobile phone use also includes the use of the camera facility,
• Do – clearly label designated ‘usage and non-usage’ areas with appropriate signage,

Don’ts

• Don’t – allow unfettered mobile phone use throughout the healthcare premises,
• Don’t – allow mobile phone use within 2 metres of sensitive medical equipment (as specified by MHRA)
• Don’t – allow patients and visitors to use the camera phone facility without permission,
• Don’t – subject patients to noisy ringtones, music from inbuilt players, constant “chatter”, as they are recuperating
• Don’t – allow patients and visitors to charge their mobile phones from the hospital’s power supply

Although NHS Trusts must ultimately decide where mobile phones are and are not allowed the Department of Health suggests that their usage, for safety, privacy and dignity and annoyance reasons, are not used in the following areas;

• On wards,
• Intensive therapy units,
• Operating theatres,
• Maternity wards,
• Special care baby units,
• Children’s wards/areas.

The whole guidance paper can be found here