Guidance on use of mobile phone and devices for patients and visitors

We recognise that mobile phones and other devices such as tablets are essential to maintain communication with friends, family and loved ones. However, in a hospital/healthcare setting they can sometimes be a nuisance to other patients, visitors and staff and pose a risk to privacy and dignity, especially if information, images and recordings are posted on social media. This includes taking photos of Wye Valley NHS Trust community staff working off site/in patients homes/ in care homes.

Mobile phones, tablets and other devices that connect to the Internet can be used across Wye Valley NHS Trust’s hospitals/healthcare settings, unless the Trust specifically advises you that their use is restricted in certain areas or circumstances.  The Trust has policies and guidance in place to protect the confidentiality and privacy of people, staff, patients and visitors which includes the use of social media.

Mobile devices

We ask that you switch your phone to ‘silent’ while in clinical areas whenever possible, and hold any mobile phone conversations away from sleeping patients or treatment areas. Furthermore, it’s not permitted to charge up a mobile device via a hospital mains power supply.  Where patients or visitors are using devices to watch or listen to recordings, or internet streaming please use earphones to avoid noise being a nuisance to others. Please note that ward staff have the interests of all patients, visitors and staff to consider and they have the discretion to limit the use of mobile devices in ward areas.

Mobile devices and social media

Patients and visitors are responsible and personally liable for the use of their mobile devices and we ask that care and consideration should be given at all times for the privacy and dignity of other patients, visitors and staff. 

Where photographs or recordings are made on Wye Valley NHS Trust’s hospital sites/healthcare settings, including taking photos of Wye Valley NHS Trust community staff working off site/in patients homes/ in care homes, please do not capture other patients, visitors or staff unless you have the explicit consent of all those involved. Images or recordings made whilst a patient/visitor at the Trust must not be posted onto any internet/social media site or shared with another individual unless you have the explicit consent of all those involved. Please ask members of Trust staff first if you are thinking of taking any images or recordings to see if this is possible.

Please do not reveal any information that could potentially identify a patient, such as a patient’s name, address, postcode, identification number, image, voice recording, or health condition. Furthermore, avoid publishing any comments identifying patients, visitors or members of Trust staff.

Action Wye Valley NHS Trust may take

If a member of staff has reason to believe that inappropriate images or recordings have been made without the explicit consent of all included, we may ask to check the recordings and ask that this material is deleted including any related social media posts. We may also ask the social media site to remove such images or recordings. Where images or recordings are considered to be of a potentially illegal nature, we will take further action. Please remember that any comments or internet posts which are of a discriminatory, racist or defamatory nature will be reported to the Police for investigation. This guidance is designed to help protect people’s confidentiality within our hospitals/healthcare settings and we thank you for your understanding. Should you have any queries please speak to a Wye Valley NHS Trust staff member providing your care.