| I have to agree, during the "Good ol' Days" when Matron ruled with a rod of iron and the wards had to be spotless there possibly was less cross infection, however we no longer live in a time where the government will subsidise excess staffing levels to allow the nurses to get out the dusters and mops and so we have to accept that we all have a role to play in keeping infection down. In fact the opposite is true, the people employed to clean don't have enough time to do that!
Central heating wasn't around back then, i think it's widely accepted that increased heat has increased the spread of infections, not only at hospital but also in the home. How many times do you visit a hospital ward and complain that it's too hot, yet you try and get the heating turned down, see how many patients complain because it's colder than their own home!
What i'm trying to say (admittedly in a Jennings Sneck Lifter semi drunken haze!) is that whilst I accept that the situation is far from perfect we should also accept that we all have a part to play in keeping these dreadful infections at bay, all it takes is a squirt of alco gel when entering and leaving a ward to dramatically reduce the cross infection! The quantity of patients we see who present with D + V who have recently visited a spouse or friend in hospital is increasing, it's obvious they haven't had a couple of squirts!
It's easy to blame the government, and yes they do have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility, but come on, lets all help out!
Sorry if this reply is a bit muddled, i've had a couple of beers but, this is a subject close to my heart! I'm also going to try and dig out some stats i recall reading a few months ago about the cross comtamination of TB patients in the 50s and 60s, i'm possibly wrong but i wonder if it's simply that cross contamination has always been there, just different diseases. As soon as the NHS get on top of one type of cross contamination another one rears its ugly head?
FWIW I don't consider myself informed enough to comment on the Fat Cat allegations and comments!
__________________ Stay safe, Stay off my Ambulance! Addictions have lifelong consequences, usually short lived! Sometimes I drink my whisky neat. Other times I take my tie off and leave my shirt hanging out! The great Tommy Cooper RNLI - YD Charity 2008/2009 Tin Rattler
Paul. |