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 Home News General
Staff in the dark about scabies outbreak25 August 2005Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne today confirmed that they have treated up to 30 of their staff members for scabies in the last two weeks. Although only one case of scabies has been formally identified by management, the Health Services Union believes that an outbreak of the nasty skin disease has hit the hospital. Despite the extent of the infection it is understood that only a handful of staff and patients have been informed about the outbreak. Mr Jeff Jackson, State Secretary of the HSU said that is was vital that all staff, patients and their families were informed immediately that up to 30 workers have been treated for scabies. "Scabies is a highly infectious skin disease that requires immediate and thorough treatment," Mr Jackson said. "To continue to keep patients and workers in the dark about the infection is blatantly irresponsible. While Mr Jackson welcomed the hospital's commitment to formally notify all hospital workers of the infection today - he was alarmed that staff had not been told earlier about the suspected scabies outbreak. "This 'head in the sand approach' has only enhanced the risk of infection amongst patients, staff and the broader community," Mr Jackson said. It is understood some staff were informed about the infection last week - two to three weeks after a patient was identified with a suspected scabies rash earlier this month. However, the bulk of hospital staff and patients remain unaware that scabies has been identified in the hospital. Mr Jackson said that it was vital that the Bracks Government stepped in to make sure patients, their families and hospital staff were fully informed of the situation and had access to urgent treatment. "Patients and workers need to know that scabies has hit the hospital so that they can be treated and take the precautions needed to avoid further infection," Mr Jackson said.
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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU) |
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