NHS Management tell staff have "No to Mugs"

It has come to the attention of the national press that Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield General Hospital and Leicester General Hospital have decided to ban their staff from drinking hot drinks, such as tea and coffee in public parts of the Hospital. A move Zuffar Haq, a health campaigner said was “a ridiculous and Draconian measure.”

It would appear that an e-mail was sent by Michelle Scowen, who is matron for clinical support and imaging, who said the the ban on hot drinks followed complaints from patients and employees. Apparently the drinking of hot drinks in front of the public at reception desks gives the impression to staff and the public that clinic staff are not working as hard as they might be. It would seem that drinking hot drinks makes the public more frustrated and inflamed by long waiting times during clinics and for appointments. The management of the hospital trust think that by drinking hot drinks in front of the public is compromising on their high standards.

Although I can see the point the management are trying to make, I think they might be going a bit to far with no gain to the patients waiting in the queues for appointments clients. In fact they could be making things worse and the waiting times longer. While staff are at the desk they are still working, if the desk is empty and they are having a coffee break then they are clearly not working. In the interests of productivity it is better to let the staff continue to drink their hot drinks and carry on working.

I'm sure the management and the staff behind the scenes will still be drinking their drinks at the desk and that just makes this rule unfair. It is hard work working in the front line of the NHS and the fact that staff don't take coffee breaks and work with a mug in their hand shows how dedicated they actually are.