In response to the longstanding debate about the safety of wireless devices in hospitals, the British government has come to its senses.
Regulators in the United Kingdom say most mobile communications systems can be used in hospital settings. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, part of the U.K.'s Department of Health, has issued a report recognizing the importance of mobile technology in patient care. But the report also encourages health care provider organizations to "actively manage" use of the radio frequency spectrum in their buildings because the electromagnetic interference mobile equipment produces can affect medical devices.
The agency rated the risk of interference for several types of mobile systems and devices and made specific recommendations for their use in hospitals and other provider sites. They include:
Analog emergency service radios, which pose a high risk to medical devices, can be used for emergencies but not routine communication.
Private business radios, such as two-way radios, also are rated high risk and should not be used. The agency recommends changing to lower-risk technologies.
Cellular phones as well as laptop computers, PDAs and gaming devices that use General Packet Radio System and 3G, or third-generation, cellular technology are rated as medium-risk devices, but a complete ban on their use is unnecessary, the report says. The agency recommends that hospitals set up designated areas for their use and ensure that such devices are not used near critical care or life support medical equipment.
Cordless telephones and most computer radio network systems are low risk and do not need to be restricted.
Now if only the United States would do something similar!
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