Help us keep our patients, staff and visitors safe from infection in our hospitals
Preventing infection in our hospitals and community sites is an important part of patient safety.
Our patients are more vulnerable during their time in hospital and so we need to work harder to keep infection at bay. Patients who pick up an infection in hospital may take longer to recover and stay in hospital longer.
Infections can include:
and more
The single most important way to reduce infections picked up in hospital is good hand hygiene by all.
Please use the hand sanitisers or soap and water when you enter our hospitals.
See some handwashing tips on the NHS website.
There are many ways we keep patients and visitors safe whilst in our hospitals. Our commitment to you is that we will:
wash our hands before and after direct contact with a patient or after an activity that will contaminate our hands
be bare below the elbow if we are directly working with patients
regularly deep clean equipment and the environment
monitor the appropriate use of antibiotics
train staff and volunteers in infection prevention
screen patients for infection where appropriate
follow national guidelines on infection prevention
have in place a dedicated Infection Prevention and Control Team to support staff, manage any infection outbreaks and work closely with microbiology
Clean your hands either with soap and water or the alcohol gel provided at the ward entrances, before and after visiting
Do not come to hospital if are feeling unwell
If you have had a cold, diarrhoea or vomiting please wait 48 hours after your symptoms have disappeared before visiting
Don’t sit on patient’s beds as your clothes may be contaminated
If you see any signs of spillages or dirt let a member of staff know
Ask staff if you have any questions about preventing infection
Wear a face wear mask in some of our areas if you are asked to
