PLANS to allow hospital patients to use their mobile phones in wards could be scuppered by annoying ringtones and concerns about secret filming.

Basildon hospital bosses revealed their worries, but said any delay in lifting the mobile ban had nothing to do with a multi-million pound contract the hospital has with the firm which provides bedside phones.

The hospital has been considering ending the ban since March, when the Department of Health confirmed mobiles did not interfere with sensitive medical equipment as first thought.

Such a move would be warmly welcomed by many patients who have to use bedside phones, heavily criticised for being too costly.

Rob Speight, the hospital's assistant director of estates, said the hospital had to overcome some difficult issues.

He said: "For example, many patients will not be happy about someone in a bed next to them constantly using a phone and some ringtones are highly inappropriate.

"There are also real issues of personal privacy and dignity around phones that have built-in cameras."

Meanwhile Pat Trinnaman, communications manager, confirmed the hospital had entered into a lengthy contract with Premier Tele-Call "many years" ago which had led to the arrival of the phones.

But she was adamant the contract in no way influenced the hospital's mobile phone policy.

Patients and visitors can currently only use their mobiles in the hospital's public areas.

Mr Speight said they were now waiting on advice from the Department of Health before they made a final decision.