Covid 19

[Jogs12]

My wife is a care worker for the NHS she has been told from tomorrow her ward is opening for covid 19 patients. Do you think she should have a choice as I have heart promlem and her dad has terminal cancer.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I would expect it will probably be Registered healthcare professionals involved in the direct care of these patients.

Strict infection control measures will be very carefully followed and the appropriate training given to any members of staff who are likely to come in contact with a patient with coronavirus.

The workforce will be protected as much as possible as well as the patients.

[Jogs12 in reply to Milkfairy]

People have still died doctors nurses so no one is safe, unless your under 10.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Jogs12]

Life itself is not without risk.

Coronavirus is not the only infectious disease or other dangers that doctors and nurses are exposed to during the course of their work.

Healthcare professionals cannot choose their patients or refuse to care for them.

They are however taught how to take infection control measures.

[Jogs12 in reply to Milkfairy]

So you would be happy to do it and take a chance of passing it to your family.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Jogs12]

Yes

I have in the past made that exact decision.

Only time I didn't was when I was pregnant.

Insert handwashing emoji😊

[Ashisan in reply to Milkfairy]

I am an ex military nurse trained specifically in this field and if you follow procedures to the letter the risk of transference is negligible. I would give one tip. Make sure that she has a total change of cloths including underwear and shoes, one set for inside the hospital and one set for coming home in. Also make sure that she doesn't touch the "home" cloths until she has washed then used gel up to and including her elbows after taking her ward cloths off. That sounds extreme but if she is worried about transference that should minimise it.

[Harrison4 in reply to Ashisan]

Morning I am trying to protect myself after H A and asthma ,my family have to sit in the cockpit of customers cars each day which is germ laden any advice

I have advised gloves on each job and cleaning steering wheels and gear knobs also opening all windows

Wash hands as soon as arriving home

Very concerned they will bring it home

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ashisan]

Thank you for sharing your expertise and reassurance to us all.

Clinical staff also have to consider not travelling to and from work in their work clothes

[Chappychap]

The government is planning on requesting retired doctors and nurses re-enter the profession. Don't forget, these are people who's age alone makes them more vulnerable.

However, talking to my next door neighbour who is a GP, he says armies of retired health care professionals haven't waited for this, and have already been volunteering to come back and help.

These people are absolute heroes and we should all salute them one and all. I so hope you're telling your wife just how much you admire and respect her work.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Chappychap]

' These people are absolute heroes and we should all salute them one and all.'

They are indeed

[francesw47 in reply to Chappychap]

Hear hear! We should be grateful for the professionalism and dedication of all healthcare professionals - retired or otherwise.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

My late mother was in hospital for three months after contacting C. Diff and a friend died of MRSA. Both needed a lot of care and nursing. The last thing Public Health England or the hospital want is for your wife to spread Coronavirus into the community. As Milkfairy has said every effort will be made to protect staff.

[Dicky-ticker]

There is potential that she could speak to occupational health and be asked to be relocated into another area/ward, as a temporary measure. They may accommodate under given situation, to alleviate the other alternative that she goes off sick with stress or anxiety issues.

Having said that protocol at the hospital should be on point around cross infection/hand hygiene/infection control.

[Wooodsie]

Oh, that is a complete moral and emotional dilemma, I understand how you and your wife must be feeling. Sadly, many health care professionals will be in the same dilemma. However, if you contracted C-19, like me, I'm sure you would hope that you could be treated in hospital by someone like your wife.

This risk is out there, I'm pretty sure it will brush over all of us. Your wife will be able to take as many precautions as possible, I hope she is OK, I hope you are OK and I hope she does what she signed up for.

[Jogs12 in reply to Wooodsie]

My wife was told to wear a paper mask with suspected covid 19 patients the staff are not happy. Also suspected patients do not have to wear a mask. So please don't think the NHS care for there staff.

[Statex in reply to Jogs12]

They keep telling us that paper masks are useless. I am shocked that they give her a mask of that type.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Statex]

Masks are used by staff if they are in contact with a patient suspected of having Covid 19.

There are very clear guidelines set out by the NHS for infection control.

improvement.nhs.uk/resource...

[trash_panda]

There are lots of viruses and bacteria which are commonly spread in hospitals, that your wife could bring home, that have the potential to cause issues; norovirus and the flu for example. The NHS obviously doesn't want their staff infected as the time off will have a huge impact on already stretched resources. They will be taking all the right precautions to prevent this and ensure the safety of their staff.

[LaceyLady]

Maybe consider separate bedroom, relax in a dining room and the lounge if possible. Up the household hygiene. I’m taking Echinacea which has proven to help. I’ve got an Olbas oil smelling stick that’s made of powerful essential oils. I know this might sound restrictive, but your wife is a nurse and as Milkfairy said, you can’t pick and choose or more patients will die.

[Prada47]

When I read something like this it makes me wonder how we all assume the worst case scenario , and the worst possible outcome !! Sorry not all but some people.

I read worst case is possibly 1 in 100 people will die from Coronavirus and that is amongst the most vulnerable who may catch it. Some people will have read that as 1 in 100 will die. Not true as many millions will not even catch a very Mild dose of the Virus. OK some will but lets keep it in Perspective.

Regards

[Lezzers in reply to Prada47]

Well said Frank

[Maryjd in reply to Prada47]

I was getting a little panicky today with everything that's being said regarding us older people (I'm 61) and those who have low immunity ( i have heart failure disease) my stress levels were on overtime but having read what you wrote I thought Yes I need to get this into perspective so thank you for that....

[Jogs12 in reply to Maryjd]

Hi Mary my wife worrys ever time she goes into work. She won't see her dad now she worry about me. Our son who is also ill and our new grandchild, so the repercussions of her going into work are huge. But she's brilliant at her job and she will do it to the best of her ability

[Maryjd in reply to Jogs12]

Your wife has my utmost respect ❤ Stay safe and well

[Hidden]

I'm on your side. Your wife is not in the military and there is no more obligation on her to risk her life or the life of her family than say a shop clerk. Leadership, sadly lacking these days, is about talking to your team as individuals and making sure they are comfortable with the risks notwithstanding any safety procedures, personal protective equipment and so on. If they aren't they need to be offered an alternative position for the duration. Pragmatically, I would not want someone caring for me who was constantly distracted by the risk and losing focus. That can result in needle stick injuries and worse.

[Prada47 in reply to Hidden]

Ok I see your point, but and here it comes

So you say No I would like to be moved to another position, Sorry we don't have another position so you will have to go Home. And we will have to Pay someone else to do your Job which by the way still exist.

So a dilemma your not Sick so you can't claim Benefits, so Knuckle down and get on with your Job it has to be done.

Doctors, Nurses and the Military have to get on with the job No matter the Risk. What they do is Mitigate the Risk as a Care Worker will have to Mitigate the Risk.

Regards

[Hidden in reply to Prada47]

And I repeat, care workers are NOT in the military, they are employees like everyone else and a good leader understands duty of care and OH&S laws and tries to work around any issues as best as possible. Enable shift swaps etc. yes, it can sometimes come down to people having to make a hard choice between being paid or otherwise but adopting a just shut up and do it management style means you can lose the whole team and be fined or even prosecuted if the worse happens.

[Prada47 in reply to Hidden]

And who looks after the Sick whilst you decide ??

[Jogs12 in reply to Prada47]

My wife is the main carer for her mum and dad. Both in there 80s which means she won't be able to help them for a while which upsets her. She will do her job like a true professional that she is. But she scared of bringing it home to me.

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Jogs12]

I understand how difficult it must be for your wife and for you too.Yes, of course healthcare workers can't pick and choose and of course they knew this when they signed up for the job but healthcare workers are human too and circumstances change throughout life.I'm sure your wife didn't envisage the care demands she now has with her family and this outbreak when she signed up for the job.I really admire all of those in healthcare and the sacrifices they make.My very best wishes to you and your wife.🙂

[Lezzers in reply to Hidden]

Surely when someone takes up health care as a career they would be aware that there would be situations when their own health may be compromised? What if every health care worker said, I'm not doing that, let someone else do it?

[LaceyLady in reply to Hidden]

Years ago nursing and doctoring was a vocation. Florence Nightingale and all her nurses, nurses in appalling conditions, at risk of all sorts of deadly diseases and risk of being blown up! Hard working dedicated people.

My aunt, an Auxiliary Nurse, worked hard and long hours tending the sick and infirm. Also visiting the elderly at a Grand age of 85 for as long as she was able.

Has doctoring and nursing become just another job?

[Hidden in reply to LaceyLady]

No one in nursing, emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance and of course the military ever sees what they do as just another job. All of these vocations are hard work, require shifts, expose then to high risk including, sadly, the worst of humanity, pay little and adversely affect family life. That said, Britain and Australia are democracies and people (with the exception of the military) are free to choose what they do. That means we need to show compassion when individuals in those vocations need it.

[Statex in reply to Prada47]

There are employment laws that prohibit such attitudes today. The foot soldiers that do the work and take the risks in the military whilst the officers and high ranking individuals hide in a bunker.

[Melliesissy]

I feel there is more chance of contracting corona virus in your daily life than from your wife. Have just come back from chemist where 2 pensioners coughed into their hands and did not then follow up with gel. The staff where using gel after each cash transaction.

[Jogs12 in reply to Melliesissy]

She's on the ward now and there's a few with symptoms. think she would rather be we're you are. 🤔

[LaceyLady]

Worrying about WHAT MIGHT happen, creates stress and high cortisol levels which brings down the immune system!

There’s a lot to be said for the British Stiff Upper Lip!