What annoys me is Nursing home staff and management who cringe at the odd toenail or callus on the ground, yet they let a flea bitten cat sit on the dining tables ......Yuk.
Maybe this thread is not so quirky! I have been told I could apply for a hearing dog but have held back as it would have to go to work with me but have held back due to infection control.
But I read an article read an article by Hearing Dogs for the Deaf of a nurse taking their dog into the practice, the dog sat quietly in the corner while the nurse was treating patients.
I personally don't have a problem with this as I have never caught anything off a dog or a cat but plenty of infections from humans! (However, I am sure the HPC would have something to say about introducing animals into a podiatry surgery!)
The exception would be during invasive procedures where full aseptic precautions are required.
The physio at a local NHS clinic, who is blind, takes his guide dog to work with him. It sleeps on a large bean bag at the corner of the clinic and snores gently.
When I see signs that say "no dogs except guide dogs" I chuckle. Are guide-dogs taught to wipe their paws, or are considered less of an infection risk than other canines? :D
Dido
LOL. I had to read this a couple of times to figure out if the dog was sitting on the patient's lap or the podiatrists. What if the patient's had a fear of dogs? I guess they'd go somewhere else. I would if i were a patient. i dont like dog hair on my clothes at the best of times, let alone after a trip to see a health professional.
Dido good idea is to get the HPC's and SOCAP's opinion as a starting block. I think there is a lot to consider before I go up this road but life is difficult, frustrating and tiring when you don't hear a knock at the door, doorbell or the phone ring, certain sounds are more difficult than others.
I do have two guide-dogs that regularly come into the surgery and I think it would be discrimination to refuse them access and hearing dogs do come under the same umbrella.