No scrubbing necessary for Muslim doctors and nurses

We wouldn't want to offend them:

Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to opt out of strict hygiene rules introduced by the NHS to restrict the spread of hospital superbugs.

Female staff who follow the Islamic faith will be allowed to cover their arms to preserve their modesty despite earlier guidance that all staff should be "bare below the elbow".

...

The Mail on Sunday reported the change had been made after female Muslims objected to being required to expose their arm below the elbow under guidance introduced by Alan Johnson when he was health secretary in 2007.

The rules were drawn up to reduce the number of patients who were falling ill, and even dying, from superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

Revised guidance which relaxed the requirements for some religions was published last month.

Some Muslim staff and those from other groups may be allowed to use disposable plastic over-sleeves which cover their clothes below the elbow and allow the skin to remain covered up.

Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK, said: "My worry is that allowing some medics to use disposable sleeves you compromise patient safety because unless you change the sleeves between each patient, you spread bacteria.

"Scrubbing bare arms is far more effective."

Thanks to Don for the find.  He adds:

From the London Telegraph on March 19: “Up to 1,200 patients are thought to have died unnecessarily at [one] trust between 2005 and 2008.”

Comments

[Julian Pershing]

Hey, as long as they only let them cut on muslimes, I don't think they even need to wipe the instruments off. Frankly, I think that the sniveling, snot-nosed castrati who run the government of England have pretty well sunk their island forever now.
If the diaper heads don't want to work in hospital with certain rules, that's fine, let them toddle on down the road to a McDonalds, a car wash, or a suicide bomb factory. They can find a job at one of those fine places which would suit their talents rather nicely.
And besides, the muzzies I encountered in the UK, all had an aversion to soap and water anyway, going by the evidence.

[I'm not dead yet]

Separate rules, then, separate hospitals. For the peace of mind of Muslims, there should be hospitals only for muslims staffed by muslims only! Only muslim patients. (I own a funeral home by the way and really could use the business)

[Jacob Klinger]

/tickled by I'm not dead yet

Nice comment.

The day this stuff starts happening in the US.... let's just not finish that thought.

[Mommynator]

This semester's class is microbiology for me.

I'm totally shuddering, grossed out, nauseous, etc., at the thought of this.

Bringing us back to the days when blood, gut, pus and ooze encrusted medical garments were considered the mark of excellent surgeons.

I think I need to go running and screaming now.

[Locutisprime]

Any accommodation for the religion of peace.

[Nan G]

I was looking for whether these Muslims were even washing at all.
Isn't an alcohol-based cleaner required?
Are Muslims exempted from that as well?

Filthy to even think about those sleeves.
Icky!

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

Why are devote Muslim women who cannot/will not expose their bare arms (I know that’s a turn on for me) even working as nurses in the first place? Seriously. Why would they want to help us infidels? We disgust them so with our pork eating, dog owning, liquor drinking, lascivious lifestyles. Why would they want to be around us in the first place?

Unless forcing us to bend to their rules is their ultimate goal. Not all Jihad is done with suicide bombs and planes flying into buildings folks. It’s called Silent Jihad and if you value our freedom you should learn all about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Stealth-Jihad-Radical-Subverting-America/dp/1596985569

And/or visit Mr. Spencer's fine web site frequently -

http://www.jihadwatch.org/

[S]

Reading these comments make me feel so blessed that I am a Muslim, the religion of peace and respecting all people no matter where they are, @ Nan G, if you are wondering why we work as nurses to help you disgusting creatures, this should make you think that although we are disgusted by your habits and lifestyle, it doesn't stop us from helping all people what ever is their background, unlike you intolerant, racist. The 2nd thing, if you are well-educated enough you would know that we pray 5 times a day, so we do (Wodoo') wash our arms, feet, mouth, face and hair 5 times a day, we change our underwear twice a day, I'm not trying to use your ways of disrespecting others, if you are a true christian or Jewish you would know that Virgin Mary used to cover her head, all the women from that era covers everything because religion respect woman and don't want her to be like piece of meat to men, walking almost naked and get rapped or bad comments. you guys live in a bubble and the media manipulate your minds, you only know about your celebrities and elections.