Path-lab blunder sparks staff anger

THIS is the image from the Pennine News website and magazine which shows Gary Walton sitting on the bench near culture dishes without wearing the compulsory white coat

Pathology lab staff at the Royal Oldham Hospital have been incensed by a photograph in the latest Pennine News newsletter — which shows a manager breaking strict health rules.

The monthly journal of the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust shows IT systems and project manager Gary Walton sat at a desk next to a pile of culture dishes used to grow swabs to test for infections.

He is not wearing the white lab coat which is compulsory for staff, and appears to be next to dishes containing pathogens or cultures.

Now Oldham West MP Michael Meacher has reported the breach to the Health and Safety Executive, and is calling on them to put a stop to the practice.

An insider said: “Some of the staff have been disciplined for not wearing white coats, yet he is sat on a bench where pathogens are stored.

“He could be carrying them to his office or out and to his home. Staff are absolutely furious.”

The photograph shows Mr Walton perched on a desk loaded with culture dishes by a computer where a blood agar plate appears to be growing a culture.

It was used to accompany a story about the Trust’s good practice in storing data and generating patients’ records.

Mr Meacher’s letter says he has had a complaint from an aggrieved constituent who says junior staff are disciplined for not wearing white coats.

He adds: “It is alleged there is a culture in the department of the more senior the manager, the less likely they are to wear protective clothing in the laboratories.”

Len Fielding, pathology directorate manager at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The staff member featured in the photograph is generally office-based but entered the laboratory for a short period while the photograph was taken. He should have been wearing protective clothing. We regret that this did not happen.”