Should i worry if midwife didnt wash hands before taking blood?

[oops1diditagain]

As above really. Had blood test yesterday and kicking myself for not asking but did not see her wash or use gel before taking my blood. I walked straight in and midwife said just to get on the bed and she did BP then blood straight after. I also didnt see her use gel after - she just went straight over to write up some notes. Could I catch anything from this? Just a bit worried in case she had traces of someone elses blood on her finger before touching my arm. She did use sterile wipe on my arm, but then touched my arm with cotton wool and plaster after.

My midwife did the same but you can have said please wash your hands

You would be really, really unlikely to catch anything from this. She is more likely to catch an infection from you. She should have worn gloves though and next time casually suggest it.

Did you ask her to wash hands princess? I wish i had, but it was a very rushed appointment as they were running over an hour behind and were clearly trying to get through everything as quickly as possible. Surely if her hands were not clean and she is touching an injection site on my arm which is bleeding then it is me who is more likely to catch something?

She may very well have washed her hands before you came into the room between appointments for all you know. I wouldn't worry too much. She's not going to have blood from other people on her hands more for her own protection and benefit of anything else.

She may have used the gel before you went in, but its not good practice she should either wash her hands/use gel or sterile gloves immediately before taking blood.

No you are not going to catch anything. Risk is to midwife and that is very, very low. She should wash her hands between patients and would be advised to wear gloves when taking blood.

But crumbs if she doesnt wash her hands before or after bloods (at least not while I was present) I am concerned that her hands could be contaminated from the previous patient and pass this on to me- eg hep b?

I really don't think you have anything to worry about. If she came in with blood on her fingers and rubbed the blood into the site of your blood test then maybe.

But a possibly unwashed hand touching your arm? I'm sure it's not a problem.

You need a fair amount of blood to catch anything! I really think you are over thinking this. Try not to worry. X

Honestly if the midwife had had blood on her hands I assure you she would have washed them. Blood gets everywhere and makes a right mess all over paperwork ect, plus it's just not nice to have blood on your hands. There's no way she would have left it there.
Next time you should ask her to wash her hands however.

If she had a trace of blood on her hand from putting on a plaster on another patient after a blood test then doing the same again with mine - is this a risk? I just thought she would wash hands straight after this activity but evidently not.

It is extremely unlikely. Try not to worry, I know it's easier said than done.

Have you got anxiety OP?

They usually put gloves on.

OP you'll be fine. Even if you did ask would you be thinking she might have lied? Even if you saw her wash her hands:what if she didn'y wash then throughly enough?

Not saying this to scare you but I had anxiety in the past. You need to stop this train of thoughts - please talk to your midwife or GP if you need support.

There is a minuscule risk to you, yes. But it is so small that you need to tell yourself to not give it another thought. If you worried about every little thing like this you'd go mad!

The reason HCPs use 'universal precautions' when taking bloods etc, is not to protect the patient, it's to protect the HCP from the patient. It's good practice to wear gloves, but it's not mandatory, sometimes it can make it a bit awkward 'feeling' for the vein. The risk is to the MW, not the patient.

She may wash her hands/use hand gels between calling patients. Next time just say you would prefer to see her wash her hands.

Second the above, as a nurse - the universal precautions are to protect the HCP not the patient. You are not at risk at all. You are absolutely fine.

Besides this, she may well have washed her hands after seeing the last patient and calling you in - how would you know?

Elorna, I was just concerned in case she may have had traces of blood on her finger from putting the plaster on the previous patient as I saw her taking a big tub of bloods through to the reception before she called me. I also thought she would wash her hands after taking my blood but she carried on with several other tasks. Is this not necessary after taking blood?

Why would she get traces of blood on her finger from putting a plaster on? You don't put a plaster on if the injection site is still bleeding, you put the plaster on when it's stopped.

She may have washed her hands after you left the room & before she called the next patient. You wash hands before dealing with the next patient.

You are not at risk at all. Stop worrying.

OP, with respect you are massively overthinking this. Are you generally anxious? If you are talking it through with your midwife so she can reassure you.

I used to wash my hands in between patients. Seemed most effective use of time. If blood is taken efficiently there will be very little to no blood outside of the needle and syringe.

It's usually the patient who holds the cotton wall ball or swab on and I would pass a plaster to the woman rather than putting one on myself.

You can ask her to wash her hand or use hand gel. She won't be offended or think you are a loon. Believe me she will be met with much stranger requests every day.

Also we tend to know the infection status of women who would require extra precautions so it's only new bookings whereby we might not know the full history if they choose not to declare it.

She walked out with me to call the next person in and had still not washed her hands - maybe she would gel them once in the room with the next patient.