hospitals

[Guest guest]

A local hospital has been innovative in using some of

my aromatherapy products with their patients on Psych

ward, onocology and others. They use sachets for

individual use, and do not interfer with other

patients who may be sensitive to the aromas. The

products are for insomnia, nausea, and depression.

They carry them around in their pockets, or pin them

on, or put them by their bedside, or in their pillows.

I make them special, dispossible. They are very easy

to make, by injecting cottonballs with formulas,

wrapping them in round coffee filters, tying with a

ribbon, and placing in a plastic bag, so they can open

and sniff, at their leisure. I have also given

lectures to hospipals and nursing homes on

aromatherapy. So the word has gotten out. The patients

love them, and I think it gives them support with

their individual problems.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jean,

 

Could you possibly send me details of that recorded incident which you

mention.

 

Neither the IFA nor the AOC have records of it, and it would be very useful

to know where and when the incident was documented.

 

With kind regards and best wishes

 

Vivian

 

Pendlestone <pstone

Aromatherapy List

23 July, 2000 11:10 AM

[AX] hospitals

 

 

>A UK view on the subject of the use of EOs in hospital ........ I am a

Nurse, & Aromatherapist, & don't feel that my sense of smell is blocked up

with petro-chemicals. However, whilst I would love to use EOs at work many

hospitals do not have protocols & guidelines to support or accomodate their

use ........ by this I mean things like COSHH assessments & risk management

assessments. Some years ago there was a recorded incident where a health

worker, working in the vicinity of a patient being massaged with lavender

had an anaphylactic reaction to the lavender. The aromatherapist was working

independantly, & following this incident the hospital drew up protocols to

protect themselves ( I am sure the main aim !!) & their nurses /

aromatherapists. I do not think that many hospitals have such protocols, but

am encouraged to know that some forward thinking ones do.

>Also, whatever may be deemed appropriate for one patient may not be

suitable for another in very close proximity ......... or may be too

sedating, thus sedating the nurses too ( God forbid !!!). We work in an

ethos where the chemicals have had sound COSSH reports & are judged to be

'safe' whereas EOs possibly may not stand up to scrutiny if there were

another incident (simply because they have not been approved by hospital

governing bodies), & in this kind of scenario, forgive my cynicism, the

nurse / aromatherapist would be left to carry the can.

>Please don't think I am against the use of EOs in hospital, but I believe

it cannot be dabbled with, & must have safeguards inbuilt for the protection

of the practitioners.

>Having said that, when MY mum was dying, her consultant gave me permission

to use aromatherapy ......... reflexology ..... whatever would make her

comfy. At the time I only had lavender oil with me which I used & the nurses

on the ward all loved it & even other patients & their visitors felt that I

had improved the usual aroma of a general medical ward !!

>A goal in my life is to get complementary therapies recognised in my

hospital trust. I had thought that Clinical Governance may have provided a

lever, but at the end of the day finances rule.

>It is now the end of my day. A busy night shift & I am off to bed.This is

very long, I hope it is not TOO boring ..... & if it sounds pessimistic it

isn't meant to ...... just realistic, with a knowledge of how 'the system'

treats people especially when something goes wrong !!!!

>Very best wishes to you all. I pick up lots of useful tips for my 'other'

life (ie aromatherapy not nursing ) Lots of staff come to me for advice &

treatment & there is a strong wish amongst nurses to use more natural

therapies, & even if they can't at work they will at home.

>Jean

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