"Hand washing at Queen Elizabeth isn't yet routine"

Last year I spoke to a member of the PALS office who said the hospital rules state that any Doctor or Nurse taking blood etc. should be seen to wash his/her hands in front of the patient and then apply rubber gloves.

During a visit to the hospital today the doctor who attended to me did not wash his hands but applied rubber gloves. The staff member who took blood wore only one glove to her right hand and observing her from the open door the only time that glove was changed and hands washed between patients was when I requested it and I think I was number 10 in the queue!

I would have thought that washing hands should come as naturally as breathing. What is their problem? No doubt the same as the rest of the population.

During my visit today I only saw one patient enter the waiting room and clean their hands with the gel provided. No prizes for guessing it was me.