IN THE continuing quest for multidisciplinary working it seems that palmistry has entered the NHS. Well, perhaps not the psychic type, but it does involve hands.

Nursing Standard (April 10) reports that palm-readers are being piloted to clock nurses in and out of work at two hospitals in Birmingham.

And in similar vein, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in London is installing hand-readers that will be used to open ward doors. Nursing Times (April 10) says that the move is intended to stop agency nurses and other staff claiming more hours than they have worked. All ward staff will check in at the beginning and end of each shift by putting their hand into a reader that will match the shape of their hand to a pin number and record the time.

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