EAST Lancashire MP Nigel Evans has backed a parliamentary campaign to allow the use of mobile phones in hospitals.

Mr Evans said the use of mobiles should only be prohibited in areas where they can interfere with medical equipment, rather than the current blanket ban.

And the Ribble Valley Tory said allowing patients to use their mobile phones could stop private telecom companies "fleecing" patients and their families with "exorbitant" charges for bedside telephone systems.

Today an East Lancashire hospital boss said a partial ban would be difficult to enforce.

Mr Evans is one of ten MPs to sign an all-party early-day motion (EDM) on the issue in a bid to influence government policy and bring about a change.

The EDM reads: "We note that hospital trusts should undertake a local risk assessment to determine those areas where it is safe to permit mobile telephone usage and those areas where usage should be prohibited.

"We urge NHS Trusts to do all they can to allow patients to use their mobile tele-phones where it is safe to do so.

"Being in hospital, despite the best efforts of nurses and others, is a miserable time for most people, who naturally want to keep in touch with their partners and families to lift their spirits and break their isolation.

"And we believe that relaxing the rules, would make it harder for private companies to fleece patients and their relatives."

Bedside phones in East Lancashire's NHS hospitals are provided by private firm Patientline.

Callers ringing patients face charges of up to 76p a minute from mobile phones and 49p from land lines in comparison with dialling Australia which carries a peak BT landline charge of 22p a minute.

Outgoing calls are charged at 10p per minute, with a minimum call charge of 20p.

Today East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust's director of finance, Stephen Brookfield, said: "We would have practical difficulties in enforcing a policy that allowed use in some areas but not others and this could pose a risk to patient safety.

"We would be interested to hear the outcome of the debate on this issue and any further guidance from the Department of Health."