When using a hospital toilet

[MAD BUTCHER]

As a male fast approaching 70years, I have of late been spending quite some time in various hospital departments. It therefore came as a great comfort to me when using their toilet facilities that there is a sign up - complete with diagrams - as to how I should wash my hands. It did disappoint me however, that when standing at the urinal there was no instructions for it`s correct use. I mean, is there a particular hand to use to unleash the monster? Should I then use both hands, or would one suffice, if so which hand? left or right? And, what should I aim at? Yes! so many questions left unanswered.

However, today I felt really let down when I needed to take advantage of their full facilities i.e. a male sitting down job. Having gone in the cubicle, there was not a single notice advising me what to do! Should I have washed my hands before going in - or maybe used some of the disinfectant gel which is on the walls everywhere? Again a poser, which hand to use? Which way to sit? (After all if it took me 70 years before I knew how to wash my hands properly, what else am I getting wrong). Do I flush before? After? in between?

Should I communicate with the hospital and ask for a little more guidance on these matters?

[sara3]

yes, you're definitely in need of medical intervention.

best of luck with that.

[Ice.Maiden]

Make sure you don't touch the door handle on the way out. Someone might not've washed their hands!

[terambulan]

Squat with feet on toilet seat and flush using your feet or reams of paper wrapped around hands.

Don't slip on floor as NHS compensations are reserved for foreigners.

[Ice.Maiden]

Oops!!!!!

[gelda]

I was in the hospital the other day waiting in the coffee room for my chemo tablets to be made up and watched at least 14 people use the toilet, I then decided to use the toilet myself and guess what ,none of those people who went in before me had washed heir hands, the sink was as dry as a bone! No wonder there are so many germs about in hospitals.

[foodluva]

Good point Gelda! It really annoys me when hospital staff get all the flack for high infection rates in hospital. I'm a nurse on a busy surgical ward and sometimes we have patients in isolation due to MRSA or C-Diff. The number of times I have turned my back and found one of these said patients out of their rooms and talking to others/gone to the shop etc. is unbelievable. Granted, some of these patients maybe have dementia and don't understand but most are fully aware of their situation but just don't give a cr@p!!! Not only are staff too busy to watch these patients all of the time but neither are we allowed to restrain them if they walk out of their rooms. In my experience, the patients are far worse than the staff when it comes to the spread of infection!!!

[gelda]

Foodluva, perhaps you can help me here, I've just been diagnosed with MRSA (fourth time I've had it this year) I've been put on a high dose of antibiotics (1200 mg 3 times a day) but haven't been told to isolate myself yet patients in hospital have to be isolated, just wondered why. I'm on chemo which I take at home so obviously my immune system is pretty low.

[foodluva]

Sorry for the delay in replying. It depends where the MRSA is? Usually tests will specify a site where MRSA is active eg. a wound, nose, throat, groin, blood, urine etc. If you were in hospital you would be isolated but if you are at home you wouldn't/ couldn't be (although you would probably be educated on how to prevent spread). 40% of the population unknowingly carry MRSA in their nose so many cases are carried into hospitals as opposed to being caught in hospitals. Depending where your MRSA is, it can be difficult to spread so it may be that you are not considered a huge risk to others. MRSA is pretty harmless unless it gets into an open wound or caught by an immunocompromised person eg. someone on chemo. Even then, it usually causes delayed wound healing only and not usually the horrific stories you hear in the press. Your immune system is probably pretty compromised hence your vulnerability to it. It may be something you need to endure whilst you are on chemo. Keep taking the antibiotics. It may be worth asking your doctor to screen anyone living with you in case there is a constant cross infection going on. Remember, of the 40% carrying it, most are symptomless so others in your household may be carriers.

Good luck!