would you have said something?

[chipkid]

Tonight I had to take ds to A&E with a head injury. He had a lot of matted blood that was cleaned away for the dr to examine the wound. The nurse used gloves before touching Ds. Whe the Dr came in she neither washed her hands nor put the latex gloves on before touching Ds's open head wound.
I reassured myself that she had probably washed her hands after seeing the previous patient-but she was touching stuff in the cubicle before she touched Ds.
Neither Dh or I said anything although we did exchange glances.
What would you have done in the circs?

[Passionflowerinapeartree]

I'd have said four letters to her MRSA

[Passionflowerinapeartree]

But I am V bolshy, our healthcare is private (even A & E) and my mother has worked with doctors on and off since she left school at 16 so I know what they are like.

[misdee]

i would say, gloves please. for your ds and her health and safety.

[Passionflowerinapeartree]

How is your DS BTW? Hope he is OK.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'd be a bit unhappy about it, but I probably wouldn't actually notice.

Oh, and the MRSA thing is largely rubbish - all the tabloid samples that have tested positive for MRSA were tested in a single "lab". That is actually a shed, in someone's back garden. And he has no official qualifications.

[starlover]

goodness.... that's not good is it. I would have thought it was standard practice to wear gloves with any open wound in case of risk of infection from HIV or anything

not suggesting your ds has HIV of course, but she should have been thinking about her own health as well as that of your son!

[Passionflowerinapeartree]

My grandmother has been recently diagnosed with MRSA, she is in a home attached to our local hospital. Her doctor whom my mother works with said that it is incredibly widespread but treatable. MQAC that may be the case with tabloid samples but that doesn't mean that there isn't a problem with it. It was one of the reasons that our health authority moved our heart ops from Southampton to London.

[misdee]

NQC, MRSA is a problem, all patients are swabbed at harefield regularly, then put on barrier, notices on doors stating to glove/spron up, bedding in red sacks, etc etc. major prob. peters last infection wasnt MRSA but one that is closely linked or soemthing.

[edam]

Hand-washing is very important to reduce transmission of MRSA (amongst other infections) between patients particularly those with open wounds.

The tabloid con was about testing samples taken from door handles and other surfaces. Separate issue.

Chipkid, I'd probably have done the same as you, noticed it but not said anything! When a doctor or nurse is caring for your child, you don't want to appear to be rude, do you, however illogical it might be to think that way?

[chipkid]

edam I felt exactly that way-but felt soo guilty afterwards as my first priority is of course ds!

Passionflowerinanpeartree-thankyou for your concern-he was absolutely fine in the end-made such a song and dance about having his wound cleaned that I knew he must be ok! He had supper in front of the telly (strictly forbidden under normal circs!)and a fab ice lolly when he got home so he went to bed happy.

The other thing about the experience that upset me was the fact that there is little screening between children's and adult's A and E. Ds saw very drunk man wrestling with a nurse followed by a comatosed man in a wheelchair surrounded by police!
You can imagine all the questions that we had to fend off on the way home....!!!!

[jalopy]

Sheer laziness of the doctor. You've every right to be angry. Question is, did she wash her hands after examining your child's head? If not, then I would complain.

[chipkid]

to be honest wasn't paying attention after head repaired as just wanted to get home!

[chipkid]

...had to return to casualty yesterday as he fell and hit his head at school! and the wound re-opened!

Had to take dd who is 1. The place was heaving and there were at least three very sick looking children who were coughing and sneezing everywhere! the waiting area is tiny and was boiling hot. Now thinking to myself-I would have been better to have stayed at home (no treatment required for ds) than exposing both children to a whole raft of illness!!
anybody had a similar experience?