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Doctors and nurses need to look at our dirty feet
• I TOTALLY agree with John Morris (The danger of filth on our feet, Letters January 22) about the way people ignore the transfer of germs via feet – shod feet and bare feet.
Hygiene has improved massively at the Royal Free and most cleaning is very well done, but bare feet and door knobs (of toilets) are ignored.
This is even more important after being admitted for a procedure.
Over the years at the Royal Free I have been astounded at the way patients walk in wards, get out of bed, get on and off trolleys, have procedures, go to the toilet, etc with bare feet. Then get back between their sheets.
I went in for a procedure where I was given a razor to shave myself prior to a procedure, and told to do it in the bathroom/toilet.
My pubic hair, like those of others having this procedure then landed on the floor (I did put down a few paper towels, but this was not adequate).
Patients put their bare feet on to the ward floor and go to the toilet in the night on bare feet.
They then put their feet back in between the sheets of their bed where the germs will find a nice warm atmosphere in which to multiply.
Even getting off the trolley to go for a heart procedure I was not warned to take slippers with me and had to put my feet on the floor being used by staff wearing shoes, climb two steps on a pair of unprotected steps up to the operating table.
Then, of course, back to bed. Bare feet between sheets.
Another source of infection are the sides of the bed where one helps oneself up and down (this is not washed during daily cleans).
Also the sides of the tables which go over the beds are often crusted with food, etc, as only the tops are wiped.
I have mentioned these points at the Royal Free via their suggestion box, but nurses (more so doctors) do not seem to give transfer of germs via feet importance.
My son suggests that doctors’ pens and ties also escape the routine washing/sterilising as they move between patients.
Name and address supplied, NW3
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