"Poor hygiene"

A phlebotomist working at Bretton Medical Practice completed my pre-booked blood test. I am concerned about their personal hygiene because they licked their fingers before picking up their tools/ sample holders, and then used same licked fingers to place and apply pressure to the cotton wool used to prevent any bleeding.

I'm aware their actions will likely not cause me any lasting problems (I'm fully flu/covid vaccinated), but the latest flu virus mutation is apparently causing uncomfortable symptoms and the phlebotomist was noticeably throat clearing whilst working – as if they might be coping with a respiratory bug.

I do object to anyone licking their fingers to enable a better grip on papers/plastic envelopes/prescriptions etc and then using same licked fingers to e.g. touch and dress my arm during the blood test. Such lax hygiene can pass on e.g. viruses  including covid if the practitioner is a carrier. I have complained about staff finger licking in the pharmacy too,  where one Pharmacy Manager agreed it should not happen but another displayed a rather too put out/obviously annoyed/ how dare you complain attitude.

Fact is, habitual finger lickers are not aware of how annoying to customers and colleagues their actions can be. It's a habit which requires monitoring by the medical practice/pharmacy – something not to be ignored. And if a phlebotomist has a tickly throat clearing habit and thus an increased propensity to pass on a respiratory bug / virus, the practitioner should be wearing a face mask – in addition to exercising better hand / touch hygiene.