A PATIENTS' support group has echoed MP Stephen O'Brien's call for people to use their mobile phones in Leighton Hospital rather than pay increased rates for bedside phones.

Gary Steele, of the Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group, said the news private phone company Patientline was that increasing the price of incoming and outgoing phone calls from hospital landlines from 10p up to 26p a minute was 'insensitive'.

Mr Steele, a former prostate cancer patient at Leighton and fundraiser for sufferers, said: 'It's so silly to put these prices up so dramatically.

'I think they are clutching at straws as to how much money they can make from different sources. I think the answer is to let people use mobiles.'

He criticised Patientline, the company which installs telephones and TV systems at a cost of £1m for each hospital and is yet to make a profit.

'The phone is important, because it's not easy to get there if you don't have a car. It's very insensitive at a time when people are at a disadvantage.'

Mr O'Brien said that he was now calling on the Government to intervene.

He added that he hoped Leighton would be one of the first hospitals to allow the use of mobiles to get around the 'extortionate' call charges.

Leighton Hospital said feedback suggested patients welcomed the convenience of the bedside systems.

'We await guidance from the Department of Health regarding the use of mobile phones within hospitals,' a spokeswoman said.