EBME Forums Forums Management Equipment Libraries Decontamination

A man after my own heart, I see, D.O.A. Speaking as I find (with no particular axe to grind), I see this as a general trait amongst those of the Nintendo Generation. They don't seem to take much pride in doing a good job (or, for that matter, in anything much at all), and probably consider simple cleanliness as beneath them. "Someone else's job", as it were ... not for degreed people like them!

Absolutley right Geoff. No-one takes ownership, particularly in the NHS.
On the point of infection risk from dirty equipment, it is a possibilty, but in reality there is not a great deal of nasty bugs lurking on the devices (infection control did a random survey 3 years ago). This does not excuse someone taking responsibilty for cleaning the devices though.

To my mind it's not only about (the possibility of) spreading infection, but also of perception. When you're patiently waiting (as a patient), or perhaps accompanying or visiting a patient, you don't want to be sat there surrounded by grotty kit, do you? Doesn't the patient (tax-payer) have a right to expect kit that is "socially clean" (...with Mr.Sheen)?

Yes, taking "pride of ownership" (or lack of) has been my mantra for many years now!

The only way to sort this is if they made it an offence not to clean properly. May sound a little extreme but it's the only way to force people to do that which should be done as a matter of course!

Pride in your work! but more importantly consideration for others who later handle the equipment.

Better not let the Daily Mail get hold of that one, Lel!

Going off topic a bit here what's the Nintendo Generation? Since Microsoft and Sony stole their market, hasn't Nintendo been aiming quite a bit at the 30/40 something market? Surely it's the Playstation Generation?

Anyway, doesn't decontamination go hand in hand with patient safety? I'm sure we've all seen how great a glue dried glucose makes and wondered how it's even possible for human hair to get clogged in some parts? Surely a dirty piece of equipment can also be an unsafe item.

As one of the Meccano Generation, I can confirm that my son was definitely a great Donkey Kong fan. Colin is 29 years old now. About the same age as many of our young hospital staff, I would say.

PS: I recall that Colin used to enjoy removing the batteries from his Game and Watch (he did this to any battery-powered kit he laid his grubby paws on, for some strange reason). Unfortunately, I was never able to inspire him into "our" kind of work. That's the real problem with the Nintendo Generation, I've found - an attention span measured in milliseconds, rather than hours! I don't think I ever once complained to my own father "Dad, I'm bored!"

PPS: As a boy, my Dad was another great Meccano enthusiast (and I inherited his nuts and bolts, and all the rest). He was also a very practical man (like many of his generation), almost completely self-taught, but able to competently turn his hand to most useful skills (eg, welding, carpentry, "decoking" engines, changing the big-ends ... and all the rest). To my mind, our present generation of youngsters just doesn't compare with the WWII Generation. No way!

Note that I'm still on topic ("decoking")!

We learnt how to remove wheels! (Liverpool joke)
Anyway back on topic


It should be Dankel!

Ed

PS Dankel, is that a ZX your sitting on mate?

... and what sort of punishment do you guys have in mind, I wonder? An ASBO, electronic tagging, "out on licence"? Our prisons are over-flowing, our prison population is at an all-time high (as, for that matter, is our population in general). We already suffer the most regulated country in the world! And now we have Boris as the Mayor of our capital city (Liverpool wasn't too keen on him, for some reason)!

Portsmouth too I believe mate!


Try guilt, think along these lines...Tell them "The next patient requiring the device could be one of your relatives!"

Easy really!

Ed