Handphones ok in wards

NST: Handphones can be brought into wards but their use should be restricted to corridors.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said this was to ensure that patients and staff were not inconvenienced.
"Patients need quiet and peace of mind to rest and recuperate speedily. Mobile phones are an irritant," he said after attending the Chinese New Year celebration organised by MCA Ledang division in Tangkak last night.
Dr Chua said it was not easy to ban the use of mobile phones in wards as this would mean deploying more security staff to check visitors.
"Visitors and patients must bear in mind that the use of mobile phones in wards can disturb patients, especially those in serious condition. They must be considerate when using it," he said.
He said some visitors and patients spoke loudly, disturbing patients.
He was commenting on director-general of Health, Datuk Dr Ismail Merican's, statement that hospital directors have been directed to disallow the use of mobile phones in hospital wards.
This was in the wake of instances of visitors using mobile phones to snap pictures of patients undressing or using bedpans.
Dr Ismail, in a statement today, clarified that he had not called for a ban on handphones but for them to be used outside wards.