The Department of Health has published guidelines which it hopes will encourage NHS trusts to relax mobile phone restrictions.

Using Mobile Phones in NHS Hospitals 2009 advises hospitals to allow patients, staff and visitors to use their mobile phones in wards and public areas.

However, mobile use in areas with sensitive medical equipment, such as in intensive care and specialist baby units, is still prohibited.

Hospitals are also advised to be wary of mobile phones with cameras in private areas such as bathrooms, toilets and secluded areas, which could breach a patient's privacy.

Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "Mobile phones are commonplace in everyday life these days and people have told us that they'd like to be able to use their phones more in hospital to keep in touch.

"That's why we're keen to encourage sensible use in NHS hospitals where it is safe to do so, in addition to other services offered in hospitals such as bedside payphones, TV and internet access."

The 2009 guidelines were written following consultations with the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

They replace guidelines introduced in May 2007, which said visitors should only use their mobiles in designated calling areas and that mobile phones should still be banned on wards.

This meant that patients were forced to use bedside phones from companies such as Hospedia, which charges patients 10p per minute for outgoing calls.

Calls to the patient are charged at 39p per minute off-peak and 49p at all other times.

Clive Bray, director of device technology and safety at the MHRA welcomed the changes: "The MHRA recognises that mobile phones provide a practical way for patients to keep in touch with friends and relatives during their hospital stay.

"We welcome the clarification in guidance on the use of mobile phones in non critical areas,” he said.

However, the NHS Confederation, which represents hospital managers, warned that the use of mobile phones could cause a problem.

Nigel Edwards, director of policy, said: “The last thing we want to do is to make hospitals more stressful than they need to be because of the noise of annoying ring tones or the kind of loud phone conversations that already plague much of everyday life.

“Doctors and nurses doing their rounds should not have to constantly wait for patients to finish phone calls and night-times on wards should not be disturbed by the chirruping of text messages.”