Morale is LOW.
I understand that I am now in a different situation altogether. GP clinic settings but I also can't denied the fact that A&E department is our neighbour. Therefore we played as a supporting role to them though our staffs also have to be the gatekeepers. We have screening and triage counter set up just outside A&E department.
I realized that all fever cases was taken care of by my department and A&E at the triage area, a fact that hit me hard. Of course, the scariest part was how these suspected/ feverish patients got past the temperature screening in the first case -- SWINE FLU being primarily defined by "medical symptoms" like fever and cough, anyone with either of these gets shunted to us for evaluation.
The protective gear load increases steadily. It started out with masks, then gloves, then gowns, head caps and shoe covers but we have no goggles this time! The N95 masks are giving some of us headaches and claustrophobia, not to mention difficulty breathing, allergic reactions and profuse perspiration -- I have to gown and de gown my PPE. Not fun.
But based on personal experience, I can tell you that donning masks that make breathing extremely difficult, and gloves/gowns that suffocate and drench you in a thick film of sweat ( considering the heat wave that's currently ongoing in Singapore ), it's no wonder that some staffs can't comply 100% of the time. Try wearing your new uniform and have the PPE on. The problems is when perspiration is trickling down your face and your clothes are so wet they're practically glued to your skin. I've gone through this before, and it is very very unpleasant.
Wore the space suit for the first time since during SARS, I must say it conveyed a wonderful sense of security for me, since my N95 mask has a tendency to leak when I look down or move my head too much. And don't even think about laughing or smiling with that thing on -- your glasses will fog right up and scare the wits out of you. I decided to wear contact lens instead.
The only problem with the wearing the head cap is the inability to hear anything besides the whooshing of air as it passes your ears. The doctors that I assisted were also wearing one, so we were practically yelling at each other during the procedure or conversation "What?!", "Huh?", "Oh, never mind, here it is." Among staffs and patients we were also yelling at one another practically because we can't hear each other due to the mask and head cap...
