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The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that health professionals in vulnerable areas wear bandages. Retired nurse Aud Vatne (68) reacts to the fact that there is no more widespread use of sanitary napkins among health professionals and patients in Norway.
Vatne says that she and her husband wore bandages when they went to a GP in Bergen and in the neurology department at Haukeland University Hospital.
– I absolutely believe that there should be a more widespread use of face masks among health professionals in Norway. At least now that we have an increasing spread of infection in Bergen, as well as cases of infection in hospitals, Vatne tells Dagbladet, adding:
– It is very strange that more use of face masks has not been introduced as one has no idea who is infected on staff.
Previously, Dagbladet also spoke with Hanna Aase, who has been in the hospital as a relative of her 94-year-old grandmother and who is critical of Kristiansand Hospital’s rules on bandages.
NIPH open for more
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that health personnel in Norway wear a bandage if they are in contact with a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19. On the other hand, they have not recommended measures to increase the use of face masks in hospitals or among health professionals to prevent the spread of covid-19.
Section Chief Hanne-Merete Eriksen-Volle of the National Institute of Public Health tells Dagbladet that during the pandemic they have considered the use of face masks among health personnel in all areas of the health service. This in order to protect both patients and health professionals themselves.
– In the health service, basic infection control routines are a fundamental pillar in all patient treatment. This means that a risk assessment of the need for protective equipment, including bandages, should be performed for each situation, Eriksen-Volle explains and continues:
– Therefore, basic infection control routines allow greater use of oral bandages in situations of increased local infection.
Eriksen-Volle also notes that FHI recommends considering increased use of face masks among nursing home employees during ongoing outbreaks.
WHO and Denmark
The WHO recommends that health professionals in areas with known or suspected general spread of the infection, or with extensive outbreaks of COVID-19, wear masks.
In Denmark, Amager and Hvidovre Hospital introduced sanitary napkins for patients and families as a result of the increased local spread of the infection.
Recently, Bergen has been devastated by an extensive eruption, which has its origins mainly in student circles. The infection has spread to various parts of society and Bergen is now experiencing an overall greater spread of the infection. There have also been 31 cases of infection among Helse Bergen employees.
– I am not in this
The Bergen eruption
On Thursday, the municipality of Bergen announced that they are introducing a bandage order among employees and visitors to nursing homes and home services in Bergen. However, it is currently not recommended to increase the use of face masks in city hospitals.
Eriksen-Volle says they are in dialogue with the Haukeland University Hospital and all the information indicates that they have a good overview of the infection situation.
– Do you consider that your recommendations are in line with the WHO recommendations?
– We follow the WHO recommendations and where it is open to national adaptations. This is important as many Norwegian municipalities have not had a single case of COVID-19 since August 1, says Eriksen-Volle.
Haukeland University Hospital’s chief infection control physician Dorthea Hagen Oma tells Dagbladet that they have established guidelines and routines for when employees should wear surgical bandages.
– The use of a surgical mouthpiece in a health institution is a basic infection control measure regardless of the pandemic, and health personnel must protect themselves at all times in situations where this is necessary, says Oma to Dagbladet and continues :
– Bergen Health follows the national recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health and we do not know if patients so far in the pandemic have been infected by hospital staff.
Health personnel
The National Institute of Public Health writes in its latest risk assessment that health personnel reported anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, and anxiety during the pandemic.
They also write that preliminary knowledge shows that healthcare professionals were concerned about becoming infected and infecting others. It also shows that health professionals wanted good protective measures at work and social support, rather than psychological help.
Section leader Eriksen-Volle says they don’t have enough knowledge about whether increased use of face masks can improve the situation.
– We are well aware of the concerns of healthcare professionals and include them in our advisory assessments. As for health personnel in clinical work, FHI and the Norwegian Health Directorate are very concerned about protecting both patients and staff, Eriksen-Volle tells Dagbladet and continues:
– It is important for us to have knowledge-based advice on effective infection control measures and that we know very little about mental strain for healthcare professionals and whether this would be improved by the use of face masks. We work to establish an environment in our health institutions that is as safe as possible and where employees are aware of the routines and recommendations that apply, as well as good training in infection control.
