Noise on hospital wards – what have we learned?

During one of the author's recent hospital stay, there was a most unexpected finding. While not expecting the peace and tranquillity of a four star hotel, they were surprised to find that a great majority of the day comprised a great deal of unacceptable noise emanating from the domestic staff on the wards. It could only be described as a ‘racket’ (Anonymous, 2006:35). This carried on during morning cleaning (approximately two hours) and the preparation of meals (breakfast, lunch and supper) (another two to four hours). The noise exceeded that normally expected from the tasks (such as mopping, damp dusting, arranging plates and cutlery and preparing meals) and comprised what could only be described as a very loud social gathering. Indeed while the nursing staff were very unassuming and went about their business on this relatively busy surgical ward without much noise either day or night, the domestic staff engaged in a most unprofessional and noisy behaviour almost entirely throughout the day.