The Trust’s infection prevention and control team have been raising awareness of the importance of hand hygiene to prevent health care associated infection with staff, patients and visitors as part of World Hand Hygiene Day.
Hand Hygiene Day Conquest Hospital
Hand Hygiene Day Eastbourne DGH
The banner headline for the day, organised by the World Health Organisation, was ‘Fight antibiotic resistance – it’s in your hands’. The call to action was to urge everyone to focus on the fight against antibiotic resistance with good hand hygiene and infection prevention and control.
Individual members of staff signed up to show their commitment to hand hygiene by signing paper pendants which were made into bunting and displayed throughout clinical areas.
Sammi Foy, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, said: “Hand hygiene is the most important weapon we have against the spread of infection. It was great to get so many people to sign up to commit to good hand hygiene. Good hand washing with soap and warm water or using the hand gel can help reduce the spread of infections. We need to fight infection together as part of our fight against antibiotic resistance. So it is vital that visitors help us too when they come to our hospitals and health centres.”
When visiting a friend or relative in hospital or other environment where healthcare is provided, people are advised to
- Avoid visiting if you are unwell, e.g. with diarrhoea and vomiting
- Use the hand gels which can be found at the entrances to wards and departments when entering and leaving.
- Remind staff to clean their hands when caring for their loved ones
- Remember to wash your hands when you have been to the bathroom
- If you are caring for a loved one with symptoms of diarrhoea and /or vomiting, wash your hands with soap and water