Clean hands help prevent the spread of infection. It sounds simple – but it’s a message worth repeating.
Staff at University Hospitals Tees are urging patients, visitors and the public to help protect vulnerable people by washing or sanitising their hands whenever they visit the hospital.
As part of ongoing infection prevention efforts, colleagues are reminding everyone that good hand hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to stop infections spreading – particularly in healthcare settings.
Stop infections
Sharon Lance, deputy director of infection prevention and control, said: “As we go about our daily lives, we all touch surfaces, our faces, food, and each other constantly. These everyday actions allow bacteria to spread easily and quickly.
“While this can affect anyone, in a hospital setting the consequences can be serious. Visitors may unknowingly bring infections into hospital or take them back out again, putting some of our most vulnerable patients at risk.
“During the pandemic, hand hygiene became second nature for many of us. Although alcohol hand gel and wash stations are still widely available across our wards, we have seen a drop in hand hygiene among visitors.
“We know everyone wanted life to return to normal, but maintaining good hand hygiene is a simple step that makes a real difference. We’re asking everyone visiting loved ones in hospital to help keep them safe by washing or sanitising their hands on arrival and when leaving.”
Leading by example
Tuesday 5 May marks the World Health Organization’s World Hand Hygiene Day. This year’s theme is ‘Save lives: Clean your hands’, providing an opportunity to reinforce the importance of this simple but powerful action.
To mark the day, staff across the hospital group will be out and about speaking with patients, visitors, and colleagues, offering advice and encouraging everyone to remember that clean hands save lives.
Sharon added: “Infection prevention is something we all play a part in, and our staff will continue to lead by example.”
Handwashing tips
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Use alcohol hand gel if handwashing facilities are not immediately available and hands are not visibly soiled or dirty
- Clean hands when entering and leaving wards, and before and after close contact with our patients and their environment
- Wash hands after using the toilet, coughing, sneezing and before/after eating