Amidst this sterile environment are human touches - childrens' drawings above work desks, banter and singing from the staff while they work and jokey notes pinned on the walls as you enter. The co-existence of individual human presence and rigid procedures is particularly in evidence here.
In the afternoon I had the opportunity to dress-up and enter the aseptic environment and observe the customisation of bags of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Again more procedures, checking 'recipes' and double-checking to ensure correct measurements and hygiene standards as the staff opened ampoules and bottles to swiftly remove their contents via a syringe and inject it into the bags. It is vital that this is all done correctly as the TPN is inserted directly into the bloodstream of the patient.