General Chat

My daughters gone to work today and works in care.She has just texted me and said they have no gloves to wear to wash the elderly people.She said some have infections.She is only 18 and not long started there.Can she refuse to wash these people or should she put her health second? Annie

yes she can refuse Grannie and she should make it clear she will not do personal care without the proper equipment....is it a private home by any chance?

Definitely refuse on Health and Safety grounds.

Her employer has a duty to provide equipment to alleviate any risk to her health.

Thanks to both of you i have just texted her back and told her what you have said.It is a very bad care home.It is private and has had someone in there undercover and got a bad report and was on the television. Annie

Most definitely she can. The law states that all employees must have the correct PPE, it is the lawXX..

Get your daughter to make a diary or list of bad practices.Sounds to me they should be reported.

tell your daughter to apply to her local authority for a job...I work for mine and I have never regretted it ...she will get proper training and if they are like ours they are looking for good carers...it's a very rewarding job so tell her not to give up on the job itself x

I fully support your daughter in not wanting to wash the residents without the gloves and feel for the residents who won't get a probably much needed clean up and all because the owners can't get their act together and supply the basics, surely there must be somewhere she can phone to request some.

She has a rota made up every week so she dont know what she is working until Sunday nights for that week.She gets phone calls on her days off to say the rota has been changed and she will have to go in.They say she has to work 2 long days a month.7.30am-9.30pm with one hour dinner.She dont get asked about long days if its convenient just get put on the rota.Its such a awful place. annie

I not only feel sorry for the staff, but the poor residents as well - if the owners cannot supply proper equipment for the staff I wonder what else they are skimping on - I would have no problems reporting them tonight if I knew who they were

Ann

I work in longterm care of the elderly and this would not be tolerated. Patients/residents have rights, but the workers do also and Health and Safety is a huge issue. This should be reported, and soon.
Good luck to your daughter, she would be absolutely right to refuse to compromise the care she personally provides. My heart goes out to those who have to live there.
Mary

I also work with the elderly and agree with everything that has been said so far. I really feel for your daughter and also for the people that she is caring for. The care home should be reported.

For her own safety she should get some gloves from the chemists or even a pair of marigolds will do
MRSA is rife amongst the elderly and she is at risk.
If she is employed by an agency then report back to them, if not she has every right not do personal care.

Thank you for all your replys.Daughter has just phoned me on her break.The staff that are on duty tonight have been in the office and told there manager they have no gloves.Her reply was its there problem not hers.I now feel like ringing head office.Annie

The Manager should be SACKED.Sorry but this is making me so mad now.
Just spoke to OH ,he is GP and says REPORT to Care homes Inspectorate,or Primary Care Trust.Or does the home deal with just one GP surgery?.If so report to them.He says this is unacceptable.

n

Annie - you must report them for the sake of the workers and the residents - if I were a resident there I would pray for someone to help me - if you don't want to do it, give me the details and I'll do it and I'm sure all the others on here would do it as well

Ann

on my soapbox here now!!! these elderly people are in the same situation as Baby P in a way, not so drastic I know, but on the way to being drastic

n

I agree Ann. When I started working with the elderly I was told to treat them like I would want my parents to be treat.
These people are not getting the care that they deserve.