It seems sensible to restrict their use in environments where monitoring of patients and pacemakers are common---units providing coronary and intensive care. We also accept the argument about noise from mobile phones ringing on the ward and disturbing staff and patients, and it would be sensible to restrict their use here too. It might be possible, however, to allow the use of mobile phones in the day room of the ward, with minimal disturbance or risk to others. It would certainly be possible to allow their use in areas such as corridors, offices, entrance halls, and cafeterias without putting patients at risk. We think that outpatient waiting areas do not pose a risk, and the use of mobile phones could be allowed here too. The ringing of mobile phones during consultations would be disturbing, and it seems sensible to ask for phones to be turned off beforehand---something that most patients would consider polite anyway. We think that mobile phone use should be allowed in all non-clinical areas and outpatient waiting areas, but restricted to the day room, or other communal room, on wards and other clinical areas.
