MOBILE phones have been banned from two Preston hospitals because bosses fear the signals they give out could switch off life-saving equipment.

They say radio signals from the phones could alter the settings on a drip, preventing patients receiving vital medication - they could even cancel the safety alarms which warn medical staff that the drips have gone off.

Although there's no evidence that it has ever happened, hospital bosses in Preston are taking no chances.

Not only is the use of mobiles to be banned from most areas of the Royal Preston and Sharoe Green Hospitals, but they have to be completely switched off.

Assistant director of facilities at the Trust Howard Jackson said: "We don't want to be alarmist about it but there is evidence that mobile phones could create this problem."

Although experts recommend phones be switched off within a ten-metre radius of medical equipment, the hospitals have banned them from all areas except the office block, the restaurant and residential blocks.

Cellnet corporate affairs manager Dave Massey said: "There is potential interference particularly with older more sensitive medical equipment and I think it's a responsible move to ban them from those areas.

"But a total hospital ban should not be needed. There are a lot of people who need to stay in touch when they go in hospital, such as doctors themselves."

Current standards in medical equipment require it to be protected against possible interference from mobiles but a lot of the equipment in the Preston hospitals doesn't yet comply to the new requirements.

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