#Hospital #MedicalPrecautions
Princess Margaret Hospital Limiting Anaesthesia Staff to 1 Protective Gown per Patient ⬇️
Princess Margaret Hospital Limiting Anaesthesia Staff to 1 Protective Gown per Patient ⬇️
#Hospital #MedicalPrecautions
Princess Margaret Hospital Limiting Anaesthesia Staff to 1 Protective Gown per Patient
On 19 February, the Hospital Authority “downgraded” protective clothing for staff in isolation wards from the blue-coloured, water-resistant AAMI Level 3 surgical gowns to the yellow-coloured Level 1 surgical gowns. They further requested anaesthesia staff to use only one single gown for each patient, even if it comes into contact with bodily fluids. According to anaesthesia staff, they would normally change out of their gowns after intubating a patient and then put on a clean one at the end of the procedure when they extubate and wake the patient. This is done in case contamination occurs during intubation.
Staff are also required to register each time they take a new set of protective gear. Because they are only allowed one set per operation, so they have no choice but to hang up their used gowns in the operating room, sometimes on drip stands, and save them for when they return at the end of the operation (see picture).
Some medical staff believed this request from the HA to be frugal with protective gear had gone too far. Their concern was that intubation is an aerosol-generating procedure. (It is suspected that COVID-19 can be transmitted via aerosol droplets.)
According to a spokesperson at Princess Margaret Hospital, the grade level of protective gear is normally determined by the risk level of the procedures involved. It was also stated that a limit was not imposed on the anaesthesia staff’s usage of protective gear, although the hospital did admit that they have been requiring anaesthesia staff members to register each time they take a set of protective gear to keep records of usage. In addition, all staff members have been advised to be prudent with their usage of protective gear.
Previously, Apple Daily has made public an anti-epidemic progress report submitted to the Central Government disclosing details regarding the Hospital Authority’s medical supplier, Medicom. Medicom’s factory is located in mainland China and is under the Central Government’s control. Supposedly, their scheduled shipment of surgical masks and protective clothing was not delivered on time. This was pointed out as the main reason why medical staff in Hong Kong have been experiencing a shortage of protective gear.
Source: Apple Daily
#Feb28 #HealthCrisis #Protection
Princess Margaret Hospital Limiting Anaesthesia Staff to 1 Protective Gown per Patient
On 19 February, the Hospital Authority “downgraded” protective clothing for staff in isolation wards from the blue-coloured, water-resistant AAMI Level 3 surgical gowns to the yellow-coloured Level 1 surgical gowns. They further requested anaesthesia staff to use only one single gown for each patient, even if it comes into contact with bodily fluids. According to anaesthesia staff, they would normally change out of their gowns after intubating a patient and then put on a clean one at the end of the procedure when they extubate and wake the patient. This is done in case contamination occurs during intubation.
Staff are also required to register each time they take a new set of protective gear. Because they are only allowed one set per operation, so they have no choice but to hang up their used gowns in the operating room, sometimes on drip stands, and save them for when they return at the end of the operation (see picture).
Some medical staff believed this request from the HA to be frugal with protective gear had gone too far. Their concern was that intubation is an aerosol-generating procedure. (It is suspected that COVID-19 can be transmitted via aerosol droplets.)
According to a spokesperson at Princess Margaret Hospital, the grade level of protective gear is normally determined by the risk level of the procedures involved. It was also stated that a limit was not imposed on the anaesthesia staff’s usage of protective gear, although the hospital did admit that they have been requiring anaesthesia staff members to register each time they take a set of protective gear to keep records of usage. In addition, all staff members have been advised to be prudent with their usage of protective gear.
Previously, Apple Daily has made public an anti-epidemic progress report submitted to the Central Government disclosing details regarding the Hospital Authority’s medical supplier, Medicom. Medicom’s factory is located in mainland China and is under the Central Government’s control. Supposedly, their scheduled shipment of surgical masks and protective clothing was not delivered on time. This was pointed out as the main reason why medical staff in Hong Kong have been experiencing a shortage of protective gear.
Source: Apple Daily
#Feb28 #HealthCrisis #Protection