Sydney Australia: Hospitals risk patients lives to avoid racism slur
“Studies on the subject of cross infection due to clothing suggest sleeves, pockets and other parts of healthcare workers’ coats and scrubs can harbor germs like Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, NBC News reported.
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One study found that a third of doctors’ neckties grew Staphylococcus aureus in the lab.
Several found that the germs were often resistant to the top drugs used to treat them.”
As a result of studies such as these, it has now become standard cross-infection prevention policy in all Western Hospitals to insist on nursing staff to be “Bare below The Elbow”.
However, in Australia and in Sydney in particular, it has been leaked by concerned internal nursing staff that Hospital Administration are turning a blind eye to Muslim nurses wearing long sleeved shirts because of the modesty requirements imposed on them by their religious practices.
Simply put, hospital management are now prepared to put their patients lives at risk from cross infection, in order to circumvent the Hospital being accused of racism or sued for discrimination.
All hospitalised patients are at risk of acquiring an infection from their treatment or surgery.
Some patients are at greater risk than others, especially young children, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems.
Cancer patients and anyone with lowered immunity is now being placed at severe risk of cross infection by protocol voiding Muslim nursing staff for the sake of their “cultural considerations”.
This is the policy from NSW Health, Section 4 Hand Hygiene, hand care and care of bare area below the areas.
“Clothing that extends below the elbows must be removed or sleeves rolled up to the elbows during direct patient care.
Patient gowns must not be worn over uniforms at any time.” (See below)
This policy is coming up for renewal in June 2016.
Does this mean that in order to be politically correct and avoid future law suits that this policy may be toned down in order to accommodate the religious requirements of their Muslim nursing staff?
This is the current policy on Bare Below the Elbow.
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Incrementally we are being introduced to third world status, via habits and disinclinations to conform from migrant groups due to our fear of being labelled racist or discriminatory. When will we face up to the fact that not all cultures are equal!
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The “Clear to elbow” rule is utter twaddle. As the MoH knows. The suggestion that 1 in 3 ties would grow infective bacteria rather ignores that any patient in a hospital ward for more than 2 or 3 days would grow exactly the same bacteria because the entire Eco-system of the hospital and its staff acquire the same level of infection.
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Patient care and safety must come before any other considerations!
This is not acceptable in Australia.
Pam Woodward GRNurse.
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Why would our health department put lives at risk to appease a religion?rules are rules and all who work in hospitals must strictly follow them ,no exceptions ,religion is a personal matter ,what you believe and follow is your choice and should not affect the lives of others ,it is not for a minority to be telling the majority what rules ‘they ‘ will work under ,if they can’t abide by the rules to prevent infection ,’sack’ them ,the lives of many are more important than the religious teachings of a few.
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