Sal Paradise wrote:
I wasn't for one minute suggesting otherwise - but in ICU they deal with several patients but don't change their PPE especially the senior clinical staff. It was just a suggestion for a short term solution to the PPE issue - it seems we have Nightingales everywhere with huge amounts of empty beds and no doubt staff with little to do. Perhaps a more controlled environment would protect the vulnerable - but I get your point.
The staff are assigned to particular patients (I was under the impression something like 1 nurse per 2 patients if possible currently?). As the patients already have the virus I'll guess (and it is that) that they're not as much worried about transmitting from person to person in ICU.
However, centralising multiple people in 1 location, and 1 of them having the virus but you dont know, then going working with another person in that environment using the same PPE wouldn't be a great idea? Although centralising all the people who require care in one location and it spreading like wild fire wouldn't wither I would have thought?
They also change their PPE kit after each session and if they have a break after say 4hrs they remove all that kit, then put new kit back on before going back in?
I see you mention nightingale beds and staff with nothing to do, where is that info from?
And back onto the PPE subject, I do wonder how some hospitals who are coping with staff shortages, would have coped for PPE if those nurses/doctors had been available to work. I guess theyd have needed more?