EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Mobile phone policy

See BMJ editorial 1/mar/03 - pg 460.
Interesting article about mobile phones.

A couple of years ago in a hospital I think it was in Edinburgh two people were arrested and taken to court because they refused to switch off their mobile phones. Perhaps this line should be taken by more hospitals then this problem of intelligent people? saying their phones are not interferring witj medical equipment as they are not using them might become a thing of the past.

Alex,
Can you paraphrase the essence of the BMJ article?

I have been approached recently by staff who have seen the article, but I always keep a copy of page 4 of the MDA DB9702 Recommendations 3) Cellphones handy. Whose recommendations, until we are told otherwise we will adhere to.

I didn't realise that the use on phones was still such a big issue..

I recently visited a relation in Southport Hospital, and witnessed the patients openly using their mobiles on the wards and in the corridors!!

I regularly witness the Nursing/Medical staff using the said items within Theatres etc.

Are they special cases?, or using a special radio frequency as reported to me via the nursing staff???

I will not use my phone in such an enviroment until the MDA sanction their safe use, what a pity others don't adhere to the same rules...

As an employee Mark of the hospital you visited and witnessed the use of the mobile phone usage I feel I should answer your points.

At Southport and Ormskirk we have a Mobile Telecommunications policy that covers use of technology including mobile phones.

We have evaluated our site and tried to use acommon sense approach bearing in mind that no matter what you do people will continue to use mobile phones.

We have specific areas where patients, visitors and staff can use mobile phones. The main corridors, the canteen and certain areas on the wards have been assessed a s alower risk than places like ITU, CCU, Theatre etc.

If the hospital was Southport where you were told by a member of staff that the phone you saw used "was different" or if you saw a phone used in theatre here then I am seriously concerned.

I feel our policy is common sense and strictly adhered to.

If I saw a visitor, patient or member of staff using a phone in an inappropriate area I would act on it immediately.

We have continuous staff mandatory training and this is a subject that is covered.

Next time you are visiting and you think a phone is being used in an area that is not appropriate, please report it, we do take action and we will follow it up.

I think mobile phone policy and patients adhering to it or not as the case maybe, is not un-similiar too the " No Smoking" policy in Hospitals..

Everyone knows it is not allowed but "a smack in the mouth often offends.." So not many people enforce it!!

just a thought!

I agree with the common sense approach taken by David H. I have spoken with Andy Smith at MDA in the past and he stresses that MDA does not recommend a blanket ban of these devices. He says that we should consider the risks of each individual area and ban phones where appropriate. I feel a blanket ban would be a nightmare to police if not impossible.

Regarding Blanket ban, is it not easier to have a total ban where the mere sight of somebody using a mobile is a crime or to try and say to anyone move 6ft to the north and you are ok. Re policy we had a total ban at our old site which worked quite well until we found the patients were dragging their pole stand complete with infusion pumps outside the hospital entrance and merrily phoning away.
"I kid you not"

BLANKET BAN is the only way to go through out any Hospital. Then everyone has too comply, no exceptions. Exceptions are like a virus the edges of it spread out and thus you loose the boundaries...