Hospital hand gels 'being drunk'



A hospital in Dorset is removing alcohol-based hand cleaning gel from reception areas in a bid to stop visitors drinking it.

The National Concern for Healthcare Infections say the gel, which contains up to 70% alcohol levels, is being stolen and mixed with other drinks.

Two homeless people died in London last year after drinking the gel.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital has removed dispensers from reception areas and those in wards are now supervised.

Dr Bill Gramsden, director of infection control at the hospital, said: "[Visitors] have the opportunity to wash their hands and apply the gel in the clinical area, which is the ward next to where the patients are.

"That will be very closely supervised by nursing and other clinical staff.

"Where it really matters, next to the patient and in that environment, I am happy we have got really good supervision."

He said there had been no reports of incidents or bottles of the gel being stolen but decided to bring in the extra measures after recommendations to all hospitals from the National Patient Safety Association.

Poole General Hospital said it was aware of the problem but said its dispensers were already only available at the entrances to wards.

Neil Manser, co-founder of National Concern for Healthcare Infections, said: "Unfortunately we have people in this society who are addicted to alcohol.

"We have heard many stories of people going along and putting it into their orange juice."

THE BBC

WTF??? I'm speechless!

....and on your way to Arrowe Park

...........and you're not funny

...but think of the savings on Wolf whatdoyacallit

Its true - there are certain wards where they cannot use hand gel in the hospital. e.g. surgical wards where they get GI bleeds - usually due to alcoholism.

Maybe they should just start using radiation

We have alco gels in work and i once got pulled on the way home and the copper thought i had been drinking was having none of it called another car for a breath tezt even the poor copper who turned up thought it was a jole complete wast of time (off topic i know)

Alcholics drink anything that can get them drunk its been known they will have turps

Ethanol - the alcohol of choice for the more educated alcoholic!

There was a study done with rats over preference of alcohol - the paper was called "Induction of dependence on ethanol by free-choice drinking in alcohol-preferring rats". Remember reading about it in an email I subscribe to. The mind boggles!!

Haha, I saw these in Llandudno hospital, I would never have though you'd resort to drinking them. Christ!

that was happenin in arrowe park wen i was security up there about 3years ago there worst one for that was a Ex-Olympian and top Wirral cyclist Mark Bell who has sadly passed away now but he was a regular to A&E who was a bad alcaholic

Could this be considered defamation of character?

Ethanol ? Now that's quite sophisticated. I'm more of a Brasso filtered through a slice of thin white bread man myself. Meths & Lime on a Saturday night !

A swirl of Hand Gel on top of some Brie on Ritz crackers could be one for those with an educated palate ?

Why does the ceiling and walls of the A&E Dept. always revolve clockwise ??

Why does the ceiling and walls of the A&E Dept. always revolve clockwise ??
Pinz, is that because you are spinning anti-clockwise??

Brother in law once drank aftershave for a bet when he was in the Navy!!!!! Now that makes h
the mind boggle!!

I'll bet he had lovely smelling breath though lol