Key workers in uniform post shift in shop- what on Earth are they thinking of cross infection wise?

[Teentitans15]

Just seen a report (think on the daily mirror?) that a man was verbally offensive to a nurse going to the front of the queue.

Now that is appalling - no one should be verbally offensive to any one - let alone a key worker in these days.

But she is quoted as saying she was in her uniform as she had just finished a 6 hour shift. Surely it is a basic cross infection rule that you don’t wear uniform from a shift to a public place? That must breach so many cross infection rules?

Staff on known covid wards will be changing.

Staff on non covid wards are no more dirty than any other person (who might not have washed their jeans in 4 or 5 wears.)

Staff have been told to remove their uniform though, due to the abuse from the general public, not specifically for infection control.

Dental nurses have been told for years it is against the rules to wear scrubs outside of clinical environment.

And since there is significant transmission in hospitals currently (and asymptomatic can transmit) sorry I think it basic common sense to change - they are more at risk of transmitting

I know a nurse on a non-covid ward. They are told not to go to a shop in uniform. It has been set out as an absolute no-no.

The reason it’s difficult for them to change is because there’s no changing facilities. Because the old changing rooms have been converted into more ward space.

The queue for every nurse to use the toilets to change at the beginning/end of their shift wouldn’t be great.

If you stay 2m away from the uniform, you should be good.

It’s always been part of our NHS Trust’s uniform policy that we shouldn’t be going into shops in our uniform.

We’re now not allowed to travel in it all and must change before and after work, washing uniforms separately at a high temperature.

I can’t stand seeing people in the shop in them now.

Maybe she's a community nurse.

She could be a district or community nurse

At a time when they are refusing to let the public have proper access to dentists except in v limited circs due to ‘potential’ infection - saying it’s acceptable provided someone else stays 2m apart is not okay. Surely if need be people can change in cars etc? Staff rooms? If the hospitals are not adhering to the highest level of infection control at this time, when will they ever?

Nurse? 6 hour shift? What is this mythical length of shift?

pretty sure it said she had done a 6 hour shift on a ward

A community nurse wouldn't have anywhere to change. No hospital I've ever worked in allow us to travel in uniform.

Yes you’re right op, she should have changed in the car.

Shame on her.

Have you got nothing better to speculate about op?

You can’t compare dentistry, which is an aerosol-generating procedure, with walking past someone from a 2m distance.

I think a good rule is if you know nothing about a topic it may not be best to share your ignorance.

I can’t do a link but it’s on the mirror website - 8 May 10pm or so. Says she had a colleague with her and they had both finished a gruelling 6 hour shift.

I’m a nurse and this is against my hospital policy in normal situations, let alone now. However sometimes I am forced to wear my uniform places, if my shift finishes at 3pm and I have to collect my children from school by 3.15 for example. X

I can’t do a link - the instructions are below

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/key-worker-tears-after-being-21998791

It sounds like opposite, that he didn't feel she was a proper nurse, so not in a traditional uniform or something? It doesn't really make sense to be honest.

KateReddy - the end effect is the same surely - if an aerosol creating procedure is not cleaned down sufficiently - ie from uniform - the risk to third parties is great.
But aerosols also include coughing and sneezing and landing on surfaces including uniforms.

definitely sounds like a district/community nurse.

we have always been told not to wear our uniforms off the hospital premises, if we have to go out in uniform we were always told to cover up with a coat or in the old days our capes. I have seen carehome staff in my local tesco in uniforms without even a cardigan but with facemasks and gloves which seems a bit tits up. The reasons were infection control and the risk of being asked to get involved if there is an incident which we are not trained in. It's common sense going back at least 30 years when I trained.

Itstartedwithakiss - so it does sound like it is against cross infection rules then. Thanks for confirming. I do understand they could be times when there is little option to breach them but obv at the moment when all are desperate for cross infection rates to increase, this is presumably rarely justified

Not really surprising when there are 2k confirmed cases a day in KW (or families).
Uk doesnt seem to want to follow rules

Sorry that should have said desperate for cross infection to decrease not increase!

What’s KW keepdistance?