22 May 2009
The equivalent of five baths worth of alcohol hand rub have been used at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals since the Trust's latest infection control campaign was launched in March.
It is thought that an increasing number of patients, visitors, staff and volunteers are now applying the hand gel before and on leaving ward areas across the Trust. Using the gel can help prevent the transmission of a number of infections, including MRSA and C.difficile.
In addition, orders for the 500ml bottles have rocketed by 40 per cent from 896 in February to 1,246 in March.
The campaign, called 'The Gloves are off – help us beat infections' aims to increase awareness about the importance of hand washing before entering and on leaving ward areas.
Dr Jonathan Kwan, Medical Director said: "The campaign has so far been extremely powerful with hard hitting and brightly coloured posters displayed in busy areas of the hospital.
"I am really pleased that patients and visitors, as well as staff and volunteers, are taking notice of our messages and that there has been an increase in demand for the rub which we know can help to reduce cases of MRSA and C. difficile."
The campaign uses life-sized posters of the Trust's Chief Executive, Samantha Jones, Medical Director, Dr Jonathan Kwan and Director of Nursing, Pippa Hart which feature the campaign's key messages.
Floor mats are also displayed in all ward entrances across the Trust, depicting images of boxing gloves with the slogan 'Join us in our fight against infections and help knock 'em out forever'. They stress the importance of using the rub as well as encourage patients and visitors to challenge staff if they believe they have not washed their hands or are not bare below the elbows when providing direct clinical care.
Latest figures released last month by the Health Protection Agency show that the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) at the Trust dropped by a third last year, compared to 2007. There was also a cut of almost 40 per cent in the number of people found to have C. difficile.
