Usual Cutlery For Patients (Press, 2 May 1989)
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Summary: Usual Cutlery For Patients (Press, 2 May 1989)
On 2 May 1989, Wellington Hospital announced a policy change regarding the use of cutlery for patients with A.I.D.S. The hospital’s director of nursing services, Miss Maureen Corry, stated that A.I.D.S. patients would no longer be required to use disposable plastic cutlery. Instead, they would be provided with regular knives and forks that would be kept in their rooms and cleaned by hospital staff. This decision aligns with the Health Department’s guidelines, which indicate that ordinary crockery and cutlery may be used for H.I.V. or A.I.D.S. patients, so long as there is no bleeding in their mouths. If bleeding is present, disposable utensils may be necessary. The guidelines assert that there is no evidence suggesting that the H.I.V. virus can be transmitted through saliva, which has led to the conclusion that sharing eating and drinking utensils does not pose a risk of infection. The previous requirement for plastic cutlery had been a source of frustration for A.I.D.S. patients, who felt the measure was unwarranted, particularly given the evolving understanding of H.I.V. transmission. Miss Corry admitted that the use of plastic cutlery was based on "sheer misunderstanding" and acknowledged that even staff had been displeased with the practice. The hospital's infection control policy, which had been initially established in 1986, is currently being reviewed and updated. In addition to the changes regarding cutlery, other improvements for A.I.D.S. patients have been put in place, including the establishment of a lounge specifically for their use. This lounge will also serve other patients when there are no A.I.D.S. patients in the hospital, promoting a more inclusive environment.
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