November: It’s a little less like being the ‘new girl’ today. There are friendly faces on the ward, staff I recognise from last week and a greeting or two from nurses on their well-earned break.
I’ve given treatments to clients with both Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemia before, but the world of difference between a ‘client’ who’s having a good day and can visit my private practice, and a Sickle Cell ‘patient’ who’s been rushed into hospital in a pain crisis is eye-opening. I had the pleasure of talking about Reiki with a young woman, clearly in deep pain despite the heaviest of medication, and she decided she’d like to experience a Reiki treatment right away. (She’s a frequent visitor, so we already have Consent Forms for her on file, so I could go straight ahead.) Within 5 – 10 minutes I could see her breath easing and deepening, her hands unclasping and the physical tension being released from her taught muscles. I stayed with her for half an hour, moving gently and quietly around the bed so as not to disturb her, being able to place my hands lightly on her head and along her side, down to her feet. When I left, she was resting with her eyes closed – what a contrast.
It occurs to me that nobody actually likes the photo on their ID badge. However, in my picture I’m wearing my new Full Circle Therapies Team polo shirt. My future here at St George’s will always be in ‘short sleeves’ – bare below the elbows, no jewellery (wedding band the exception) and no nail varnish has started, and I’m already keenly aware of just how many anti bacterial gel dispensers there are within easy reach.
When teaching school children about food hygiene some years ago, I remember explaining that a really thorough hand-washing would take about the same time as singing ‘Happy Birthday’. In Haematology, it’s like learning the rules all over again. Before and after we come into contact with a patient, hands must be washed to the standards indicated on reminder boards above each sink. While it’s common sense, here at St George’s it potentially a matter of life and death – such basic hygiene protocols are key to the way Practitioners fit into this new environment.
