NHS bosses ask for hand wash effort (From Evesham Journal)

NHS bosses ask for hand wash effort

7:50pm Monday 15th October 2012 in Evesham By James Connell

SPECIAL MESSAGE: A nurse with a floor sticker asking for better hygiene

HOSPITAL bosses are urging people to make an extra effort to wash their hands to stop germs, including deadly superbugs this winter.

Leaders at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust want visitors to wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap to prevent bugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile infecting patients to mark Global Hand Washing Day today.

Hands are one of the biggest spreaders of germs and studies show it lowers the transmission of diarrhoea and colds, say trust chiefs.

Hands should be washed after every trip to the toilet and before and after preparing food while anyone visiting patients should ensure hands are clean before entering or leaving a ward or clinical area.

To encourage staff, patients and visitors to wash their hands initiatives are in place across the trust’s hospitals, including movement activated recorded messages played to remind people to use hand gel as they pass by and eye-catching floor posters telling people to stop and wash their hands before entering ward areas.

Ann Carey, head of nursing at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester and Kidderminster Hospital said: “We want everyone to stay fit and healthy this autumn and winter.

“By preventing germs from circulating we can all play our part in helping to reduce the spread of flu, stomach bugs and other winter illnesses as well as healthcare associated infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

“By washing your hands and making sure they’re dry you can cut the number of germs circulating and reduce your chances of getting ill.

“Reducing MRSA and Clostridium difficile in our hospitals is a top priority. Only three inpatients were identified with MRSA bloodstream infections in 2011/12, our lowest figure to date.”