Clean hands campaign to halt infection (From Gazette Series)

Clean hands campaign to halt infection

COMMUNITY hospitals in the county are to be among the first in the country to launch a hand hygiene campaign.

Cleanyourhands is aimed at improving hand hygiene among staff and visitors at community hospitals in Gloucestershire, like Berkeley Hospital, particularly the inpatient and outpatient areas.

The campaign, launched on Monday, is hoped to help in the battle against Methicillan-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), the hospital super bug that recently hit national headlines.

Experts say improving hand hygiene of all people who come in contact with patients at hospitals will in turn reduce infection.

Dr Philippa Moore, consultant medical microbiologist, said: "We know that better hand hygiene will reduce the numbers of hospital-acquired infections, reduce the length and cost of hospital stays, and ultimately save lives."

As of this week Gloucestershire community hospitals will now provide alcohol gel dispensers for every patient, either at the end of the bed or on the locker.

Posters are also going to be placed around wards to remind staff, patients and visitors of the campaign.

Dr Moore said: "We are committed to improving patient care in Gloucestershire by keeping our hands cleaner. We hope that we have the full support of everyone to help us achieve this."