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Global Handwashing Day—clean hands protect patients

15 October 2015

Global Handwashing Day takes place every year on 15 October and staff at West Middlesex University Hospital are encouraging visitors and staff to keep their hands clean and germ-free to help protect their patients from infection.

Global Handwashing Day takes place every year on 15 October and staff at West Middlesex University Hospital are encouraging visitors and staff to keep their hands clean and germ-free to help protect their patients from infection.

Simple handwashing can help prevent the spread of a number of infections, such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, as well as Flu and Norovirus, which are especially common during the winter months.

The hospital has a strict ‘bare below the elbows’ dress code policy to make good hand hygiene easier for staff. There are hand hygiene stations at the entrances to all wards and clinics, and in public areas such as the central atrium and restaurant which patients, visitors and staff are encouraged to use.

Dr Stella Barnass, Infection Prevention and Control Lead at West Middlesex University Hospital said: “We work very hard to prevent the spread of infection, and patients and visitors can also play their part by simply washing their hands. For patients, always wash or clean your hands after using the toilet and before eating and drinking; hygienic hand wipes are provided for patients on their meal trays to use before eating if they are unable to wash their hands.  Make sure staff have washed or cleaned their hands before they touch you.  If you’re not sure they have, don’t be embarrassed to ask them to do so. For visitors, when entering and leaving ward areas, use the hygienic hand foam or gel or wash your hands with soap and water.”

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happleton George Vasilopoulos