to wonder how effective the use of alcohol wash is when entering and leaving the GP surgery because of swine fever?

[fufflebum]

Just been to the GP and there is a sign up asking people to use the Alcohol gel when entering and leaving the surgery.

I queried with the receptionist how effective this would be and received an annoyed glare and comment about how effective it is when she was in hospital........

Anyway as I sat waiting for my appointment I wondered whether they had put alcohol wash on all the arms of the seats, door knobs and if everyone did wash their hands after using the toilet in the GP. Also when I leave and walk around my local town is everyone else doing this?

I have to say it struck me as well intentioned but slightly alarmist and also a little bit naive to think that this would help.....

(feel better now I have ranted a bit!)

What do other people think?

well a GP surgery is where people who are ill congregate, not local town
And it's precisely because they can't sterilise the seats, door knobs etc that the alcohol gel should be used

Is this new in your surgery? They're had in in mine for years now - so certainly not "alarmist" in light of the swine flu outbreak.

yes I agree. You can argue whether it's alarmist to rush out and get it now - it may be, but in general it's a cheap, effective way of helping to stop germs spread afaik

It has been standard procedure at our GP and hospital for years too.

I imagine it is very effective. I remember the MW coming to see me just after DS1 was born nearly 9 years ago and she had it. She even refused to use our bathroom in favour of the stuff. I should imagine she wouldn't take chances.

Your GP doesn't need to clean doorknobs etc so regularly if everybody has used the gel. There would simply be fewer germs to transmit.

Yes it is new to my surgery.

Perhaps alarmist is the wrong word to use. I understand that Drs surgerys are where ill people congregate. However, in other 'enclosed' spaces it is possible for these things to be spread. What about the pharmacy for example or coffee shops or on buses (have you seen the advert for the flu vaccine?).

I wonder whether any research has been done as to the effectiveness of this kind of action, in the community. Or does it give an 'illusion' of safety. Surely it is only helpful (like vaccination) if the majority do it?

My DDs nursery have the hand gel on all the doors too, for parents to use before they go into the rooms. They have had it there for months, before anyone was worried about swine flu.

People need to wash their hands, not rely on alcohol gel. My dad contracted the cdiff bug when he was in hospital a couple of years ago. I googled it,as we hadn't heard of it at the time, and every site said that alcohol wasn't effective in killing the bug, and that soap and water should be used.
At the hospital I had to tell the nurses to wash their hands before and after treating my dad, as they were still relying on the gel.

I was absolutely horrified...people have all sorts of gimmicks these days, but seem to forget the basics like soap and water!

alcohol gel is apparently good at dealing with hands covered in germs from coughs and sneezes, though.

Have given dh some to keep in his briefcase and use as he gets off the train!

YABU. Doctor's surgeries are full of germs - and people who are sick enough for those germs to be a real problem - and this is a cheap and easy way of ensuring transmission is minimised. Why would it be naive anyway? Alcohol gel does the job. A good thing in a room full of sick people, I'd argue...

abbierhodes my sentiment exactly. This was my point about using the gel and then people using the loo, not washing their hands and so forth..

I thought it may be a bit gimmicky and then wondered about it given this 'illusion' of safety.

Soap and water seems to be as effective in my view.

I have worked in a hospital environment and in the community as well so not naive to these things....

I was in boots today wondering about getting some hand sanitiser, largely because I have a cold now and wanted to minimise passing it on to my colleagues. But looking on the pack it only seems to be antibacterial, and as swine flu and colds are from a virus I didn't bother. Do the alchohol ones help with viruses?

Message withdrawn

Sme are anti bac some anti viral, I believe.

I think they're a great idea (our surgery doesn't use them)- esp. if you have the sort of system where ill-person touches screens to book tmeselves in as my Mum's surgery does. And if someone doesn't wash ahnds after loo then even better I would think.

Not just for swine flu- there's far more common bugs around all teh time that culd be severe to soemone with a compromised immune system.

In NICU btw when ds4 had his in-day the Nurses would wash between patients but then use gel on their belts if, dfor example, using something communal like a pen- a two pronged approach I suppose

I don't think they are 100% reliable by any means but they are a safeguard in doctors surgeries where it is impractical for everybody to wash their hands when they arrive.

Having the gel there, as you book in, will mean that most people feel obliged to use it and hopefully be reminded of the need for hygiene whilst doing so. The danger is it also fosters complacency so it is fine line to tread.

Nothing is 100% effective though and I think the gel has a place if soap and water are not available and not practical.

Its a bit of an odd argument that they shouldn't do it there because its not done everywhere? Bit like saying I shouldn't bother cleaning my kitchen because not everywhere I eat will be as clean as that

Its not going to do any harm is it? Seems like a sensible idea to me....