Surrey Memorial Hospital orders microwaves, toasters removed from lounges, nursing units
Nurses are outraged about the negative impact on patients, staff
Nurses at Surrey Memorial Hospital are outraged they've been ordered to remove all "cooking appliances" including microwaves and toasters from everywhere in the hospital except the main cafeteria and the Kidz Café.
According to a memo issued October 21, the order includes patient, physician and family lounges, kitchenettes,
staff rooms and nursing units.
"This means nurses in the emergency ward who work 12-hour shifts have to make do with yogurt and cold sandwiches the entire time they're at work," says Gail Conlin, an ER nurse and an occupational health and safety steward for the BC Nurses' Union. "For patients, it means we won't be able to warm up their meals anymore. If their meal arrives lukewarm or they're away for tests when the trays arrive we won't be able to help them. It's just ridiculous."
Instead, the hospital plans to install banks of microwaves in the main cafeteria and Kidz Café. But Conlin says the solution is unrealistic on two counts. In a subsequent memo issued yesterday they've expanded the plan to include "several pre-existing purpose-built cooking areas located throughout the site. Work has started to identify these key areas, though some renovations may still be required before installations occur."
Conlin considers the matter a gross overreaction which will compound the challenging working conditions of nurses and undermine the quality of care for patients.
"I'm concerned that the waits for these machines in the cafeteria and these other areas will be so long, that by the time we get to the front our break will be half over. There's also a serious concern about infection control. Many staff members are unwilling to use equipment that's open and available to everyone who comes into the hospital."
The hospital says it's making the move because of orders issued by the Surrey Fire Department. According to the memo the Fire Department complains about "the excessive number of false alarms and actual fires resulting from cooking appliances at the site … this is extremely taxing on Fire Department resources and the safety of the local community."
Conlin says the problem may stem from individuals microwaving popcorn, a practice that was stopped. Conlin says during the past four months of shifts she recalls only one alarm.
She wants the hospital to rescind the order and address problem areas on a case-by-case basis.
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