[Natascha]

Hi Emer,

Thank you very much for your reply — I had a feeling I might not have struck gold, but a bit of a minefield instead 😉

Just to clarify, the water dispensers in question are plumbed-in units. When I mentioned “water bottles,” I was referring to staff members using the dispensers to fill their personal bottles. This may present a potential risk if the rim of the bottle comes into contact with the water outlet.

The only alternative source of drinking water is the tap in the kitchenette, which in one instance is situated off the ward, down a different corridor. The kitchenette is a H.A.C.C.P. controlled area which staff members should not enter without protective clothing/headgear, which makes quick access to water a bit difficult. The dispensers themselves are positioned nearby, but not directly on the ward.

In relation to the squash: although it is purchased for patients, they typically receive fresh jugs of water directly from the kitchenette each day. In practice, it’s mostly staff who are using the squash on the table. From an IPC perspective, I really feel this table — with communal squash bottles and paper cups — should be removed.

In reality, it’s primarily staff using the dispensers, with probably the occasional visitor.

Thanks a lot for the documents you attached — I will go through them later on today!

[Natascha]

Thank you for sharing those details, Emer. With regards to submitting posters, would you be able to give me a rough idea what the deadline for submissions might be?
Kind regards, Natascha

[Author]

Posts