Psoriasis in Operating Theatre

Posted Thu 20 Jul 2023 20.22 by arielbelza

HI, Hope someone can enlighten me. I work as as Theatre Lead Nurse. I have heard from a colleague of mine, that one of the junior staff was diagnosed with Psoriasis and currently having steroid injection. He was undergoing a course to become an Operating Theatre Practitioner but the upper management decided to remove my colleague from the course due to his condition. I felt really bad hearing this and tried researching. Part of my researching ended me here. I felt he was discriminated and not given a prop[er option. If anyone is working in an Operating Theatre and have an Idea how to manage this or share your experience. That junior staff is a really good person and he doesn't deserve this. If I can something for him with my power I will do it. Thank you, Ariel

Posted Thu 20 Jul 2023 21.23 by Tracyjane

Hi, This is really sad to hear. If you go to support on the main menu you can email the psoriasis association for advice. Good luck.

Posted Thu 20 Jul 2023 21.38 by Steview
A P sufferer for over 30 years, through good and bad times.

Hi Ariel, sorry to hear about your colleague. I have no idea whether it would be discriminatory against him that would have to be down to your hospitals HR rules and employment contract law. So is your colleague employed by your trust (if NHS) or a student studying an ODP degree? If he is already employed he would have more rights than if he was a student I would imagine. Secondly as he will be working in theater environment he may have to scrub therefore his visible P could be of concern. Also the treatment he is on you say steroid injection is that it or any immunosuppresnt medication? Now that may be a concern for the management that he may be more susceptible to infection. Sorry I have no indepth employment contract law insight. He would need to speak with hospital management/HR or the course leaders. These are just my thought for what they are worth. Good luck to him

Posted Sat 22 Jul 2023 07.52 by OhNo_NotAgain? (edited Sun 30 Jul 2023 11.28 by OhNo_NotAgain?)

I would not be surprised if there were not already a list of conditions that might preclude someone from working in an OT (for clinical reasons), whether temporarily or permanently. That might be a good place to start your research.

Posted Sun 23 Jul 2023 09.44 by mt382

As a medical student, this thread has terrified me! I've emailed my lecturers and consultants for clarification. When i saw occupational health, they said that broken skin on the hands was a no no (which, technically, all psoriaiss is), but we're happy with mine and cleared me even though its on every knuckle. Either way, who tf touches a patient without scrubbing first and wearing gloves?!?!

1 Posted Sun 23 Jul 2023 11.43 by Steview (edited Sun 23 Jul 2023 12.52 by Steview)
A P sufferer for over 30 years, through good and bad times.

@mt382. I can understand you being worried. Not in the same situation I used to work at an active radioactive nuclear site. I had to have clearance to enter from the medical dep't. If I had broken skin it was a no no. I don't know what part of medicine you are studying but I think there is a difference between say a GP or an out patient clinic environment and theater environment. Yes a GPs office is meant to be clean of course and they wash their hands and sanitize. When I visit my dermatologist yes they wash but don't always wear gloves. In theater it is a sterile environment and when I mention scrub that is not just cleaning hands that will be wearing scrubs. What would the situation be if an ODP or surgeon had P on their arms or other visible areas other than covered by gloves? Hope your treatment is going well.

1 Posted Sun 23 Jul 2023 12.57 by mt382

Sounds discriminatory to me. I don't see the difference between sterilised/scrubs psoriasis skin and normal skin, in terms of patient risk (unless the surgeon has a blood borne virus, but you're screened for that anyway snd barred from OT if you have one). I'll have to investigate further. I don't know what area of medicine ill be joining when I graduate, but I would certainly hate to have the choice taken from me because I have a skin condition! Surely there's some sort of legal issue there.

Posted Sun 23 Jul 2023 17.25 by Steview
A P sufferer for over 30 years, through good and bad times.

@mt382, Again whether it is discrimatory I don't know, and any condition, Illness the practioner may need to liaise with the occi health. I have discussed this with my Son, who is an ODP and works in theater. From what he is aware from his experience and working practice is that the person with P would have to be cleared to work. For theater staff to scrub it would be to above the elbow for 3 to 5 minutes with alcohol or iodine based scrub fluid. Now my thought would be whether the fluid being used will cause an issue to the P or not. If not then there may not be an issue, only my thoughts again. He confirms he has worked with people with P in theater but of course it is all about infection control. I suppose it will come down to a case by case basis as we know P can come in different forms and severities. Good luck

Posted Sun 23 Jul 2023 18.28 by mt382

Thanks for giving the info! Yeah, I suppose it needs to be case by case. I was cleared for clinical work for my placements despite having active psoriasis on hands and knuckles so perhaps it's only if you are covered In thick scaly patches with blood oozing etc. I mean I'm sure with a quick Google I could find elbow high latex gloves? Anyway, fingers crossed moving forward for all

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