Anyone visiting the hospitals won’t be able to miss the signs and posters reminding people to wash their hands. The “Clean Hands Save Lives” signs are outside wards and clinics across the sites. Between April 2011 and March 2012 the Trust saw a 37.5% reduction in MRSA rates and a 45% reduction in Cdiff rates. The Clean Hands campaign helps to raise the profile of hand hygiene messages and reminds staff, patients and visitors to use the alcohol hand gel/foam soap provided to help reduce the risk of infections to vulnerable patients. The gel kills about 99% of germs in around 30 seconds and dries naturally on skin. More information on Purell (the gel used), can be found on the Purell website.
Patients
Patients should always wash their hands after using the toilet. When using a commode (portable toilet), ask for a bowl of water to use a handwipe. Please also wash hands before eating.
Visitors
Visitors should wash their hands or use a hand disinfectant (alcohol gel) before and after visiting patients. Hand disinfectant is readily available on all wards and clinical areas.
It is always OK to ask anyone in the hospital if they have washed their hands.
