|
|
 |
|
| |
Top e-government news, updated daily, and regular features from the top people in the public sector.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Hospital visitors told to wash hands |
|
New measures are being brought into East Devon's hospitals to continue the drive to improve hygiene.
Patients and visitors will be asked to wash and clean their hands when arriving and leaving.
Visitors are also being urged to stay away if they think they have a contagious bug or are still recovering from one.
The new measures are part of the Clean Hands Campaign, which was launched last year to encourage hospital staff to clean their hands regularly.
Lily Chapman, manager for infection control with East Devon Primary Care Trust, said: "Audits show that our staff are cleaning or washing their hands regularly and appropriately.
"It's really important for people with infectious bugs to stay away.
"In hospital, viruses such as Norwalk spread rapidly as patients often have little resistance.
"It takes up to 48 hours after the end of symptoms for a virus like Norwalk to leave the body so, even if someone recovering from a sickness and diarrhoea bug feels better, I would still advise waiting 48 hours before visiting a patient."
Hand gel and gel-coated wipes are available at each bed for staff, visitors and in-patients, with the gel effective against 99 per cent of germs.
It will be more widely available on wards and reception areas from Monday, July 3, and posters and leaflets will be on display, explaining the reasons behind the campaign.
Visitors are also being asked to clean their hands between times if they are visiting more than one patient.
The trust has said the benefits of the campaign have already been seen, with all the East Devon hospitals achieving good and excellent ratings for cleanliness in the latest round of Department of Health hospital inspections. |
|
|
|
