Louth Mobile Phones

The total ban on using mobile phones in Lincolnshire's hospitals will be lifted 1st November 2007.

Mobiles will still be banned from wards but patients and visitors will be able to make calls in corridors, restaurants, reception areas and offices.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust business manager for facilities Claire Hall said a partial ban remained to protect patients' privacy.

"Patients have a right to a peaceful environment on the wards, both at day and at night time, which cannot be interrupted by different ring tones," she said.

"This is the reason why some restrictions still remain.

"The ban will remain in all clinical and treatment areas and notices will be displayed signaling where mobile phones are prohibited."

Earlier this year junior Health Minister Andy Burnham announced that hospitals could relax the rules on the use of mobile phones.

Michelle Crouch, the trust's head of nursing in emergency care, said: "As long as mobile phones are not used around monitoring equipment and people stick to the rules then I think it's ok."

Patients were previously only able to make calls via a bedside telephone system installed by private company Patientline.
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