Hospital bosses in Bradford are proposing to relax tight restrictions on the use of mobile phones in Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is carrying out a consultation on its mobile phone policy following recent guidance by the Department of Health.

Last year the Government said there was "no reason" why NHS Trusts should ban the use of mobile phones in hospitals.

Health minister Andy Burnham said technology had moved on and an outright ban was unnecessary.

Studies have shown signals cause very little interference with equipment.

To date Bradford Teaching Hospitals has had a very restrictive policy regarding their use within the city's hospitals. However, the Trust is now proposing to allow the use of mobile phones and other mobile technology using wireless connections to mobile phone networks in hospital reception and entrance areas and public corridors.

It also proposes to allow the use of mobile phones in non clinical areas and designated rooms and areas "where the responsible manager has undertaken a risk assessment".

The Trust plans to display notices to confirm whether a mobile phone may or may not be used in particular areas.

The proposals are contained in a report by Dean Johnson, the Trust's director of planning and performance which goes before the board of governors at a meeting next week.

Mr Johnson states in his report that the use of mobile phones will still be prohibited in wards, intensive therapy units, operating theatres, maternity wards, special care baby units and children's wards and areas on the grounds of "safety, privacy, dignity and annoyance reasons".

"This list is not exhaustive as there may be other areas of concern that will be identified in the risk assessments proposed for non clinical areas and designed area," the report says.