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Patient Power Review Group: Use of mobile phones in hospitals and other NHS premises
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Author:Department of Health
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Published date:25 August 2006
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Primary audience:Professionals
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Gateway reference:7018
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Pages:4
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Copyright holder:Crown
The Patient Power Review Group has reviewed the existing guidance about the implications of patients, staff and visitor's use of mobile phones in hospitals and other NHS premises
Further, this guidance will underpin Core Safety Standard C4b, and a written policy may be a part of the HCC's inspections in relation to Standard C4.
As a result of the work of the Group, the Department recommends that it would be good practice for NHS organisations to:
- Assess the risk of interference to medical equipment from electromagnetic radiation generated by devices such as mobile phones, and radio transmitting devices which are switched on near to them.
- Identify the location of such medical equipment within your premises (being aware that interference can be both vertical and horizontal).
- Assess the impact on the patient environment of patients staff and visitors having mobile phones, and radio transmitting devices, switched on, and used, bearing in mind that interference can occur when these devices are switched on, not only when in use.
- Prepare a written policy on the use of such devices within all different parts of your premises.
- Designate areas, and identify them by suitable signs/posters:
a) which are not affected by such devices and where they can be switched on, and used;
b) which might potentially cause interference with medical equipment and therefore should not be switched on. - Inform all staff, and make the policy available to patients and others, so that the risks of their having such devices switched on is made known.
- Review the policy periodically.
May 2007: further best practice guidance
Following the publication of the Patient Power Review Group report on 23 February 2007, the Department committed to producing further best practice guidance for NHS Trusts, in addition to that produced in August 2006.
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