from The Frontline
Kent, UK
Personal Protective Equipment keeps both my patients and myself safe, but it has come with a lot of challenges!
As a Speech and Language Therapist, it has been tricky as the patient cannot see my mouth with a mask on. This is especially challenging when I am trying to demonstrate what I want them to do or for any patients with hearing impairments who rely on lip reading. We have had to get creative to work round this. PPE also makes it tougher to build rapport with patients as they can’t see your smile, your hands or anything except your eyes. This can be especially distressing to patients who are confused or have dementia.
The final challenge with PPE is how hot it is to wear! I have never been so sweaty! I look forward to my shower every evening!!