IN response to the letter from BW Breakspear (January 25) I feel I must point out that there is absolutely no link between staffing numbers and outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting.
The bugs which cause D&V are often brought in from the community by patients' visitors or staff and can spread very rapidly. It is good infection control measures such as hand washing and isolating infected patients which prevents the spread of D&V, not numbers of staff.
Although we, on occasions, do have to close wards to prevent D&V spreading, our record of infection control at Great Western is very good.
Due to the nature of intensive care, there is a much higher staffing level required to meet the needs of the patients who are usually the most ill or seriously injured in the hospital.
JO HUTT
Senior Sister, Saturn Ward, GWH
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