Questions raised about wearing of scrubs at Covid-hit Craigavon hospital

Three clusters have been identified in the hospital including 14 coronavirus cases in the haematology ward where two patients died.

Meanwhile throughout Northern Ireland as a whole more than 200 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland over the weekend – 106 yesterday and 118 on Saturday.

A woman who lives close to Craigavon Hospital contacted the News Letter to raise concerns about staff wearing their scrubs outside of the hospital environment.

Sarah Chapman said she had seen staff wear their scrubs for school drop offs, while walking their dogs and to friends’ houses and shops.

She said: “I’ve even witnessed one neighbour put their bin out in the scrubs then drive to work.”

Sarah continued: “My young daughter is in day care — at her nursery the staff aren’t allowed to wear their uniforms outside of the nursery. They change when they arrive and change before leaving.

“If a nursery can do this I’m not sure why hospital staff can’t?”

She commented: “If the staff are wearing the correct quality masks and visors like they’ve been asked in work the virus is bound to be passing on from touching their uniforms.”

A spokesperson for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “Over the past number of months, our staff have gone above and beyond to limit the impact of Covid-19 on our community.

“Huge demands have been put on staff in the way that they work and additional PPE requirements.

“Given the recent increase of Covid-19 in our community and the clusters identified at Craigavon Hospital, we absolutely appreciate public concern.

“We are doing everything we can to redouble our efforts as we move into the winter months and have written to all staff, reminding them of the importance of maintaining the highest standards, which includes not wearing scrubs in public places.

“The trust follows the Northern Ireland regional policy on the wearing of uniforms, which states that where possible, staff should change before and after a shift out of their work uniform but where this is not possible, they may wear their uniform to and from work as long as it remains covered. There are also many trust staff who work in the community and wear a uniform as part of their daily duties as they see and treat patients in the local area.”