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Removal of stitches

Story from nhs.uk

"Removal of stitches"

On Monday 22 February, at 10.40, I visited the Minor Injuries Dept at 58 Coventry Rd Market Harborough to have four stitches removed. The stitches had been put in on the previous Monday Feb 15 at about 4.30 pm by a very professional Nurse.

I had tripped on a manhole cover on Nithsdle Ave.

On Monday 22 Feb the Healthcare Assistant took me to the small room to have the stitches removed.

As they were wearing no gloves and I had seen them touching their hair as they put on the goggles,

I asked them if they had washed their hands. They replied that they had but that I had not not noticed as I was gassing at the time. (I had just explained that I sometimes have trouble with balance due to inner ear).

They assured me that they would not touch me as they had forceps etc. however, they touched the dressing I could see that much.

I don't know if NHS has special training for personnel who wear long nails and no

gloves but I felt that the standard of hygiene fell short of NHS standards. The Healthcare Assistant had a casual manner which indicated their lack of respect for their role in the hospital, as well as a lack of respect for a patient.

Having always experienced very professional treatment from the NHS I feel it important to make this complaint.

Helen Burke.

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Responses

Response from Market Harborough Hospital 8 years ago
Market Harborough Hospital

Submitted on 19/04/2016 at 16:31
Published on nhs.uk on 20/04/2016 at 02:30

Thank you for taking the time to comment about our Minor Injury Service on the NHS Choices Website.

I am very sorry you felt the care you received from our Health Care Assistant was below standard. I have since spoken to the HCA about your concerns and have reiterated the importance of hand washing prior to commencing a procedure such as removal of sutures. Although the HCA’s recollection of events differs from yours with regards hand-washing, she will be completing the module on infection control as part of her annual competency training update. I will also be raising this issue with all MIU staff at our next team meeting on 21st April.

I thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention. We strive to provide an excellent service and feedback such as this can only help us to improve further.

Yours MIU Manager

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