Reducing the Risk of Infection – What You Can Do to Help

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust continues to work hard to reduce the risk of infection. This leaflet tells you how Patients and visitors, as well as staff, can help to reduce the risk of patients getting an infection.

How can I help to reduce the risk of this happening?

Regular hand cleaning is very important while you are in hospital.

If you are a patient, you should:

• Keep your hands and body clean.  Bring personal toiletries, for example, soap, a clean face cloth or sponge, into hospital with you
• Feel free to ask staff if they have cleaned their hands before they care for you.  Hospital staff help prevent the spread of infections by washing their hands or using hand gel before and after touching patients.  Please feel free to make use of the hand wash facilities and gel dispensers in the area as often as possible, especially after using the toilet, before meals or contact with others
• Bring some moist hand wipes with you to clean your hands, or wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• Make sure you always wash your hands well with soap and water after using the toilet.  If you use a bedpan or commode, ask to wash your hands.  If you cannot manage this yourself ask your nurse to help
• Always wash your hands or clean them with the hand wipe provided on your meal tray before eating
• Keep the top of your locker and bed table clear of clutter so it is easy to clean
• Bring your own razor to shave, if needed
• Wear slippers or shoes at all times when walking around
• Tell staff if the toilets or other areas do not look clean
• Try to maintain a safe distance between yourself and others, including patients in the same room as you.

If you are a visitor, you should:

• Not visit relatives or friends in hospital if you have any signs of an infection, for example, temperature, cough, loss of sense of taste or smell, sore throat, cold, diarrhoea or are feeling unwell.  Please respect any guidance to reduce visiting in line with local or national guidance
• Wash your hands or use the hand gel every time you enter or leave the hospital ward.  Basins and hand gel are provided at the entrance to all wards and throughout hospital areas
• Wash your hands well with soap and water before and after visiting and wear an apron if you are visiting a relative or friend who has an infection or diarrhoea
• Not sit on beds when visiting
• Observe any new additional measure that may be in place such as adherence to mask wearing to reduce the spread of respiratory illness to protect yourself and others.

If you have any concerns about the risk of infection or about your care while you are in hospital, you should discuss them with one of your nurses or the ward manager.  If you still have concerns you can ask to see the matron for that area or one of the infection prevention and control nurses. 

Contact numbers

Infection Prevention and Control Team

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Telephone: 01642 383280

Opening hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm (Monday to Friday)

Further information is available from:

NHS Choices

Telephone: 111 (when it is less urgent than 999).

Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobile phones or via the website.

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]