Wirral GP suspended in probe over yellow clinical waste bag emptied only once a week

From: Ian blenkharn@ianblenkharn.com
Category: News & information
Date: 16 Feb 2008
Time: 13:03:07 +0100
Remote Name: 86.134.111.185

Comments

Wow, that seems tough, but is of course only one of a number of generally more serious performance issues relating to a Wirral GP who is appearing before the GMC.

Others include:

• Failing to follow up a symptom which could have indicated the sexual abuse of a one-year-old baby
• Not checking the pulse of a female patient with heart palpitations.
• Prescribing incorrect dosages of drugs.
• Failing to carry out suicide risk assessments on depressed patients
• Keeping “very poor” clinical histories including failing to record the fact that a young patient had been placed on the Child Protection Register.
• Not washing his hands before, during or after some examinations.
• Not cleaning an otoscope.
• Not having an infection control audit at the practice for four to five years.

I wonder why the issue of emptying a clinical waste sack was included? It might have been dangerously overflowing, and that would be an obvious safety and hygiene issue, but there is no guidance of the frequency at which sacks should be replaced. Still, it makes good headlines.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk:80/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/02/11/wirral-gp-suspended-in-probe-over-patients-safety-64375-20461677/

Last changed: 07/31/08