Whipps Cross University Hospital

Staying in touch with family and friends during your hospital stay has been made easier with the use of mobile phones being allowed on wards at Whipps Cross University Hospital.

The Department of Health introduced new guidance in January 2009 on the use of mobile phones in NHS hospitals.  This was initiated in order to reflect the rapidly developing principles of patient choice and widespread use of mobiles including functionality advantages such as texting and emailing.

Although mobile phones are now permitted on wards to help ease communication issues for people staying in hospital, the Trust will continue to ensure that inpatients remain safe, they continue to be treated with dignity and respect and enjoy privacy and comfort during their hospital stay.

Here at Whipps own risk assessments will continue to indicate where such use would represent a threat to patient safety or others.  They will also highlight where the operation of electrically sensitive medical devices in critical care situations could be affected.

Patients privacy and dignity is of utmost importance to us.  We will continue to protect the confidentiality of our patients in hospital whilst permitting the widest possible use of mobile phones on site.  Therefore using mobiles to take photos or video clips will not be permitted due to the risk of compromising both staff and patient confidentiality.