LONDON, Jan 6: Patients and visitors should be allowed to use mobile phones in hospitals except near certain sensitive equipment, the government said on Tuesday.

Many hospitals still ban mobiles throughout their premises despite recent advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which said they are safe to use in most areas. In new guidance for hospitals in England, the government said medical authorities should take a more liberal approach.

“The working presumption should be that patients will be allowed the widest possible use of mobile phones in hospitals, including on wards,” the Department of Health said.

The only restrictions should be where the phones might interfere with sensitive equipment in critical care areas such as baby and renal units.—Reuters