Sir, – HSE chief executive Cathal Magee has called for novel approaches to reduce costs in the HSE, particularly in relation to cleaning and catering (Home News, June 15th).
This week, in a tertiary referral centre catering for a population almost twice that of Ireland, I was shocked by one approach to limited resources.
Culture shock per se.
A talented senior surgeon, having discharged his patient from theatre, directed his team to the adjacent room where the cleaning supplies were stored. Said surgeon, equally gifted with squeegee as with scalpel, led a meticulous disinfection of the theatre which was completed with ample time to review the next case before the patient’s arrival. A rehearsed routine repeated all day.
Adopting a similar all-hands-on-deck attitude and dispensing with the limitations imposed by pedantic job descriptions might produce the much needed savings Mr Magee is seeking.
Such solutions do not need to be “found”, just simply embraced. – Yours, etc,