Your colleague smells of drink

or

She is snorting up cocaine at work

or

He has just pinched the patient’s bottom

or

I saw porn on the PC in the office

These all fall into the general category of “colleague in difficulty”

Deal with the question along the lines summarised by the mnemonic S.P.I.E.S.

GOOD IDEAS

Seek Information - is he drunk, or does he just have terrible taste in aftershave?

(prioritize) Patient safety - don’t let your colleague crack on with that complex redo operation just this minute.

Intervene - find a way to defuse the immediate crisis, if you can do so without spilling your coffee.

Escalate - …and if you can’t, or to deal with the wider fall-out, boot the ball up to your line manager.

Support - help your mate. Could be your turn next, after all!

NOT-SO-GOOD IDEAS

“It’s not my problem. Am I my brother’s keeper?” / “Tell the patient about it. Let them sort it out between them” / “Call the Police. Now! This is an outrage!” / “Dial 111. Surely there must be something they can deal with?” / “Phone a friend” / “Pretend it’s not happening” / “Ask him if there’s any more of the good stuff left over?”

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