Washbasins

“We cannot give you washbasins wherever you want” said the architect. It sounded OK, because doctors in our institute have asked for washbasins right in the middle of the rooms at times, without any thought to the water and lines. “But in a ward that theoretically takes 44 patients, and usually has 100 or more patients, if you do not provide enough washbasins, how are the doctors going to wash hands between patients? We are not asking for a luxury item. We are asking for the basic essential in healthcare administration” I said. A meeting of our heritage building renovation was in progress. “If you don’t give enough washbasins, doctors will not be able to wash hands, and infections will spread from patient to patient” our infection committee specialist said. “If we give washbasins where there are no existing drainage lines, there will be leakages. Your building has massive leakages already” the architect said. We let it go at that. But when I went to see the progress of work, I found he had not given washbasins in our offices where there had been drainage lines and washbasins before. “How come you have removed existing washbasins?” I asked. “Well, it is not good to have wash basins” said the architect’s assistant. “But the lines exist. The floor above and the floor below have washbasins in these locations. Washbasins here are not going to cause any water leaks” I protested. “But even in big corporate offices we go a long way to wash hands” said the assistant. “Corporate offices have a comfortable life, with air conditioners and desk jobs. They have all the time and energy in the world to go long distances to wash hands. Doctors are overworked, time starved, and cannot go long distances to wash hands” I said. “I will still speak to the architect” said the assistant. But it has been two months since, and there is no word on washbasins. I think the market price of washbasins must have shot up and the contractors cannot make a profit unless they delete this item.