I’ve been reprimanded twice this year by the Infection Control Gestapo for having a coffee in the anaesthetic room. On one occasion I was forced to redo my mandatory training module. Meanwhile, ‘bare below the elbows’ donkeys are just fine. Infection control logic at its best!👇🏼

Infection control with “no white coats for Doctors” “bare below the elbows” (no suits/full sleeve shirts) “tuck your ties”- anything to make Doctors look less distinct in NHS hospitals. Policies with very little evidence Meanwhile lanyards & donkeys are fine apparently

The lanyard class of “infection control” in NHS hospitals is often less about infection (reducing the spread that is) & more about exercising control (on Doctors) These were the same people who told us in early days of COVID not to wear masks in all areas so“not to scare public”

Where is the evidence I always say? There is none. Evidence based Infection Control would be nice.

Good to see the patient is in a stable condition

@BucksHandExpert The cannula attachment trailing over the donkey is my favourite part ❤️

Do they bring animals to all the hospitals now and yet not allow our anaesthetists to have their coffee in peace? As Dr Huw has sadly encountered the exact same problem. And as I have learnt, due to more sufficient case flow, anaesthetists don't get to go to the designated room to have their coffee to stay alert. Hence bringing in animals to wards while reprimanding our anaesthesia doctors for having their coffee in the anaesthetic room is totally unacceptable and extremely contradictory. The lanyard class of infection control should realise this difference and be made to retake their own training module.

Infection control disappeared when nurses started wearing their uniforms on the journey to work, and back home Roughly the same time in-house hospital cleaners disappeared 🤦

Back in the late 70's I remember the Anaesthetist eating his sandwiches in theatre and having to open windows after one of the surgeon's French cigarettes stank it out!

And coffee is an infection control risk how? Does the MT module specifically mention food/drink in specified clinical spaces? If not I would, respectfully, tell them to f… off.

But grubby lanyards sporting aaaall the pin badges are perfectly acceptable.

I completely agree, spent nearly 40 years in NHS, then these lot come along with their clip boards and attitudes, most of them have no idea what the ground staff deal with and everywhere was cleaner and safer without them.

What is the rationale against the coffee? (I get why donkeys shouldn't be in hospitals).

I know quite well that my anaesthetist colleagues love coffee. Their temperature control of their beverage tends to sit in quite a tight range. Antimicrobial for sure. Anaesthetist coffee should be encouraged

Because in the anaesthetic room you are preparing someone for surgery 🤷‍♀️ infection control is serious. Coffee involves liquids and transfers to your mouth which is full of germs. No wonder you have had to retake the course, sounds like you might have to do it again!

I do remember they tried to come through the bone transplant unit, and a matron chasing them out

Very little that infection control mandate has any evidence base.

Infection Control is ridiculous. In a previous life ours used to apply same logic to MH unit to a surgical ward. Its 🐂 💩

What is the reason for this - our anaesthetists regularly have coffee in theatres with no comprehensible increase in risk Patients will enter the anaesthetic room fully clothed in normal clothes and shoes or wheeled in on a bed that had been outside theatres or a wheel chair that has been outside the hospital , so there can’t be infection concerns about coffee to the anaesthetic room - I understand there would be a concern knocking over a cup of coffee in a patient but that is unlikely to happen in any normal circumstance

Remember when I did my nurse training visitors bought flowers in for patients. Then suddenly they are banned because of - yes you guessed it they are a health risk by causing infection !!!!!

As an ex Gestapo IPN to my knowledge it’s not an IP risk except to you and the ruling is a health and safety one for liquids and presence of electricity.

Is the donkey drinking coffee though?

Its fine That pony has been autoclaved first

@DrNeenaJha The donkey is there for the patient’s wellbeing, your coffee is not… Also, a patient’s room is a somewhat different environment to a sterile theatre with open wounds

You’re in the UK. Try tea.

You understand that a patient being unsanitary and getting an infection is a whole different thing than the nurse/doctor giving them an infection.

Personally ai don’t care if someone is drinking coffee in the anaesthetic tool, but if it is the written rule…. As long as I’m under and having great care, fill your boots. But don’t pick on the donkey.

@BucksHandExpert Fetlocks!

Why is it most staff wear a uniform to be changed out of for infection control but Doctors can wear their own clothes. Don't germs or body fluids ever get on their clothes?

Who forced you to redo your mandatory training module??

Need a therapy cow so patient can exclaim, “Holy Cow, I am cured! ” 😏

Plus the management folks that parade around in jackets, heels, long hair interrupting staff mid work. How is a coffee when patient isn't in the room a hygiene risk? How? The airway, urinary catheter, patient belongings are more risky for causing infection.

Point blank refuse to redo Mandatory training. Coffee has antibiotic properties so no infection risk.

They will be less inclined to hammer us on this if we all insist on taking proper breaks. I see too many colleagues “working through lunch”. Just stop the goddam list.

I swear it's a power trip

get a donkey outfit ?