Trainee doctors smarten up their way of working via textbooks on mobile phones

More than 500 medical students from Leeds University will be lent mobile phones pre-loaded with information previously available only in heavy reference books and manuals.

The group spend much of their time out of the lecture theatre in NHS hospitals, GP clinics and community health centres and need the information at hand while they are on work placements.

Copies of key medical textbooks and reference works, including up-to-date guidelines on administering prescription drugs, will also be distributed through the scheme which costs 380 per student over two years.

The initiative also has the advantage that phones can be kept clean using antiseptic wipes unlike notepads, loose-leaf folders and textbooks which can harbour germs.

Mobile phone technology is increasingly being used in medicine. More than three million doctors have downloaded an application that turns their phone into a stethoscope.

Medical school dean Prof David Cottrell said: "By equipping our students with smartphones, we are putting a whole suite of training tools and educational resources in the palm of their hand."

Fourth year medical student Claire Bird said: "In the past I've had to borrow copies of the British National Formulary (the prescribing manual used by doctors) from the wards I'm working on. Then I've had to go find a place to sit down and take a note from it, and then carry it back to its home – all of which takes up valuable time in a practice setting."

Professor of medical education at the university Trudie Roberts said: "No other UK medical school is taking advantage of the virtual learning environment to such an extent."

Students will not be able to access confidential patient databases from their phones and case notes added to files will be anonymous.

Phones reported lost or stolen will be wiped and disabled remotely. Students will have to cover the pay-as-you cost of their calls and texts.