I visited a friend in a cardiac care ward this week. I had to really search for the hand cleaning dispensers- eventually found one hanging in a corner, but with no clear signs or posters to alert people of its importance. Incidentally, during my 20 minute visit, not 1 person used it on entering or leaving the ward! I can feel a letter of complaint coming on....
When my daughter had her baby 4 weeks ago at Blackpool Victoria hospital the place was spotless,there were hand cleaner gel dispensers all over the delivery suite.
After she had the baby we went to visit her on the ward and couldn't find a single dispenser anywhere,its a good job I carry some in my bag!
It's scary isn't it? To make matters worse,while my friend was in the middle of a heart attack in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, the ambulance staff told her she was just having a panic attack!
There's always a lot said about staff & visitors washing/cleansing their hands, & quite rightly so, but why are the patients themselves never seemingly encouraged to do so, especially before meals?! Obviously the ones who can get up should take their own responsibility but I've seen food (some of which needs to be handled) eaten by the mobile & bedridden alike with no hygiene precautions.
we're in the midlands and on a few trips to our local hospital to visit people recently I made sure i used the hand cleaners on entering and leaving the ward, but i did notice that none of the staff did!