Written Question · S2W-00860 · Session 2
Whether there have been any warnings from health bodies that terrestrial trunked radio and communications masts or equipment can interfere …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any warnings from health bodies that terrestrial trunked radio and communications masts or equipment can interfere with medical equipment such as defibrillators.
The answer
Guidance on the use of mobile telecommunications equipment in Scottish hospitals and close to electromedical devices was provided in a letter on Mobile Phones
- Possible Interference with Medical Devices (HDL(2001)21) issued by the Scottish Executive Health Department on 13 March 2001. In April 2001, the then Medical Devices Agency in England and Scottish Healthcare Supplies issued further advice on the potential for both the conventional Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile phones and the new Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) radio system to interfere with a range of medical devices. On the basis that the risk to medical devices from the use of TETRA handsets is comparable to that from GSM cellular phones, NHSScotland were advised that "all personnel using TETRA handsets on hospital premises should be made aware of, and comply with, local policy on the use of cellular GSM phone systems".
- Possible Interference with Medical Devices (HDL(2001)21) issued by the Scottish Executive Health Department on 13 March 2001. In April 2001, the then Medical Devices Agency in England and Scottish Healthcare Supplies issued further advice on the potential for both the conventional Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile phones and the new Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) radio system to interfere with a range of medical devices. On the basis that the risk to medical devices from the use of TETRA handsets is comparable to that from GSM cellular phones, NHSScotland were advised that "all personnel using TETRA handsets on hospital premises should be made aware of, and comply with, local policy on the use of cellular GSM phone systems".
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-00860 by reference.