Mobile phone use on hospital site

The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley is using new technology

A hospital has introduced wi-fi technology to track lifesaving medical equipment in a move that could lead to mobile phone use inside wards.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said tagging equipment such as infusion pumps at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley is saving staff time.

The £70,000 telecommunications technology could allow medical staff to use laptop computers and mobile phones.

Signal strength is low and does not interfere with medical devices.

Jason Britton, clinical scientist, said: "The technology can improve efficiency considerably because it should reduce the amount of time clinical staff spend trying to find portable medical devices.

"Potentially this system can also be used for telephone communications.