It is around noon. Many nurses are buying fruits on the streets or are just walking around near their hospital. So far, there is nothing really strange about this. Except that they are all wearing their uniforms, which are picking up the pollution of the buses passing by and the dust of the streets. And they will most probably get back to look after their patients in the same clothes and shoes.

The regional nursing administrator of a public hospital is, however, clear about the fact that ?paramedical staff are not authorised to leave hospital premises in their uniforms?. He insists that it is part of the health protocol of nurses. How come then that there are so many nurses on the streets especially at lunchtime?

The same administrator acknowledges that he is aware of the problem. ?It happens simply because we just can?t control everyone at the same time.? Patrick Chui Wan Cheong, director of City Clinic, agrees with him. ?It is definitely not recommended for nurses to go out in their working outfit but it is very difficult to control. Even if the security officer sees them, they can find excuses and tell they have an urgent matter to deal with outside.? The director of City Clinic, however, emphasises the fact that his private hospital has a mess room where nurses are requested to change ? both their uniforms and shoes.

Risks of infection are ?present everywhere?, according to both sources. However, the fact of strolling around increases the risks of propagation of germs into the hospital premises as they come back afterwards. This is true ?especially for those who work in operation theatres,? Patrick Chui Wan Cheong points out. The apron, initially meant to protect both nurses and patients, can easily become a source of severe infection, for instance.

The wearing of uniform outside the hospital appears just as important as hand washing for instance. This is one of the most important requirement for nurses in hospitals before and after starting any procedure like serving meals or giving appropriate care to patients. The proper disposal of clinical and organic waste in different containers is another health regulation in hospitals. Blood-stained clothes or linen are collected separately for washing and placed in containers with bleach. Sterilising equipment is equally important to prevent any cross infection.

Moreover, special units like the Intensive Care Unit are washed several times a day as and when required. Walls and floors are washed thoroughly to remove germs. The wearing of gowns, masks and gloves is also a prerequisite to enter rooms where there are highly infectious cases.

However, all these procedures may not be worth the effort if the staff does not play the game as well. The possibility of catching serious infections in hospitals is so serious that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set up a special programme called ?Clean care is safer care.?

According to the WHO, the non-respect of basic health rules by medical staff ? like washing one?s hands before any contact with a patient ? is the cause of infections contracted in hospitals for 1.4 million people in the whole world. Hospitals are generally known to be the most likely places for contracting diseases ? for obvious reasons. But the staff must do everything possible to reduce the risks.