Hospital patients and mobile phones​

1- Hospital patients will be able to use cell phones from now on. Health minister is informing health institutions to let patients use mobiles if they do not interfere with equipment, privacy or cause disturbance.

2- The minister said the new policy recognized that mobile phones were now popular and could give comfort to patients. “Comfort from loved ones when you are in hospital is essential. Mobile phones are common in everyday life these days and people usually say that they would like to use their phones in hospital, too.”

3- Department of Health stipulates that mobile phones should be on or used in clinical areas only if there are good reasons for it. The Government consulted with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency that helps decide what medications and medical equipment are safe. They suggested that mobiles should be kept out of areas with delicate medical equipment.

4- The new policy can be implemented immediately, but it is a decision of health institutions to decide how to proceed. 

Randolph E. Schimid

Glossary

Mobile: telefone móvel; celular

Policy: política; regra

Reason: razão; motivo

Safe: seguro

To keep out of: manter longe de; afastar

To proceed: proceder; agir