Comments on: Texting (unofficially?) OK in UK hospitals; Phone calls by mobile? Prohibited. http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html Daily news and opinion for 250,000 industry executives and mobile fanatics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:14:00 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html/comment-page-1#comment-1341 Paul Mon, 16 Oct 2006 08:24:37 +0000 http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html#comment-1341 As part of a very accident prone family, i visit someone at my local hospital about every two months... there are two main reasons that you cant use your own mobiles in hospitals Firstly, Mobiles give out radio waves which although dont 'affect' machines physically, can alter readings on instruments such as heart monitors and dialisys machines and possibly force an incorrect medication. This case is generally only for severe and/or intensive care units which most people accept and are willing to comply with. The second reason (which is the most common) is that most people don't want to be disturbed and therefore dont want the crazy frog going off in their ear every five minutes while they are trying to recover. This has nothing to do with equipment but is actually just a calming measure to keep stress levels as low as possible for all patients. Most hospitals that offer their own phones don't offer them for 'open' wards but generally only for single room patients (although there are exceptions). And yes, they do get a kick back from the operator for call charges and for any credit bought that is unused by the patient. As part of a very accident prone family, i visit someone at my local hospital about every two months…
there are two main reasons that you cant use your own mobiles in hospitals

Firstly, Mobiles give out radio waves which although dont ‘affect’ machines physically, can alter readings on instruments such as heart monitors and dialisys machines and possibly force an incorrect medication. This case is generally only for severe and/or intensive care units which most people accept and are willing to comply with.

The second reason (which is the most common) is that most people don’t want to be disturbed and therefore dont want the crazy frog going off in their ear every five minutes while they are trying to recover. This has nothing to do with equipment but is actually just a calming measure to keep stress levels as low as possible for all patients.

Most hospitals that offer their own phones don’t offer them for ‘open’ wards but generally only for single room patients (although there are exceptions).
And yes, they do get a kick back from the operator for call charges and for any credit bought that is unused by the patient.

]]> By: Alex http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html/comment-page-1#comment-1340 Alex Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:29:25 +0000 http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html#comment-1340 There was a report about this recently, saying that the safety concerns were unfounded.. have a read of http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2401913,00.html There was a report about this recently, saying that the safety concerns were unfounded.. have a read of http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2401913,00.html

]]> By: dan lane http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html/comment-page-1#comment-1337 dan lane Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:20:23 +0000 http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/10/texting_unofficially_ok_in_uk_hospitals_phone_calls_by_mobile_prohibited.html#comment-1337 Hmm if mobiles affected equipment so much, why would they allow them to locate cell towers on top of hospitals!, and why are doctors allowed to use their phones but not patients?, I don't doubt that there are certain machines that could be affected by mobiles being in close range but I doubt there is any real technical reason why the whole hospital is off limits. Sounds fishy to me, especially since the NHS bedside phones are so expensive. Apparently, according to the NHS "The cost of installing a system at a large acute hospital is estimated to be around £1million."... I reckon half of which is associated with red-tape! Wait till some idiot gives hospitals a license to run pico-cells inside their walls and charge roaming costs. As is currently happening on planes... all of a sudden it might not be so dangerous to use a mobile on planes now they can make some quick money! Hmm if mobiles affected equipment so much, why would they allow them to locate cell towers on top of hospitals!, and why are doctors allowed to use their phones but not patients?, I don’t doubt that there are certain machines that could be affected by mobiles being in close range but I doubt there is any real technical reason why the whole hospital is off limits.

Sounds fishy to me, especially since the NHS bedside phones are so expensive.

Apparently, according to the NHS “The cost of installing a system at a large acute hospital is estimated to be around £1million.”… I reckon half of which is associated with red-tape!

Wait till some idiot gives hospitals a license to run pico-cells inside their walls and charge roaming costs. As is currently happening on planes… all of a sudden it might not be so dangerous to use a mobile on planes now they can make some quick money!

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