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A Forum For Carers
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 Alcohol gel in hospitals: - Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:01 pm |
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scipilot
Jr. Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 29
Location: Essex UK
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I am currently undertaking a full DDA audit of a very large London hospital and was amazed, well shocked actually to find that children, wheelchair users and those of a small stature are unable to use the alcohol gel to clean their hands to help prevent the deadly bug MRSI from entering the wards etc.
Why? Those that fitted the gel dispensers were obviously able bodied and lacked the brains to think about the height at which they should be placed. Most are 1500mm + from the floor. OK if you are an adult and standing but not reachable to those that are not. The areas include a SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) at 1800mm heights, this is an area of very sick newly born babies. ITU (Intensive Care) 1590mm, Children’s Ward 1610mm!! The maximum height recommended is 750mm - 1200mm from the floor.
| Quote: | The government's "action plan" will give this senior manager the power to enforce strict rules on hygiene. Hospital-acquired infections cost the NHS an estimated £1 billion a year, and kill thousands of patients.
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Shame they dont have the brains to realise that everybody needs to reach the gels supplied at ward entrances!
Next time you are visiting a hospital, please take a note of the height of the dispensers and add it here, I’m very interested in knowing if this is an isolated issue.
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| - Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:58 pm |
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Speeds
Super Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Posts: 787
Location: Crowthorne, Berkshire
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The RBH is fine - at the entrance as it is on an appropriate level table. The only issue may be for some people in leccy chairs or even a chair at the wrong height to be able to get close enough to use it.
However., pleaes be warned that a child suffered alcohol poisoning from these gels - please wherever possible do not use alcohol based ones
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| - Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:18 pm |
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scipilot
Jr. Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 29
Location: Essex UK
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| Quote: | | please be warned that a child suffered alcohol poisoning from these gels |
You are right of course but this is where the risk factors have to be calculated before deciding to lower them. It has to be worked out between the risk of a child being either unattended at a ward entrance or with a parent/guardian that allows the child to eat the gel etc against the frequency of wheelchair users attending a ward, not using the gel and therefore spreading disease to the patients. Thankfully not a call I have to maker, my job is to point out the flaws, the client makes the ultimate decision
Personally I’d like to see them removed and administered by a staff member on entry but the NHS will never go for that one 
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| - Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 11:22 am |
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Speeds
Super Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Posts: 787
Location: Crowthorne, Berkshire
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I agree Scipilot - that is why I advise against using the alochol based ones. Yes I agree that kids should be supervised but how often do adults stand and talk and children are playing - semi supervised and it is a game?
I am just warning people generally - not sure where the link for this is now but I do think it is a good idea to have these gels. However for me one thing that could be improved is information for people (patients, visitors etc) because:
1. If you use the gel when you get there - should you do it again when you reach the service/ward you are visiting?
2. If you are visiting several services should you redo each time
3. If you are there visiting for several hours in once service, should you redo your hands every hour/10 mins etc?
Just a few posed questions - hence I feel the reason that people shy away from using these.
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