28 October 2011
Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals have renewed their commitment to reducing healthcare associated infections, with the launch of a brand new publicity campaign.
Called 'This is a clean hand zone', it aims to increase awareness amongst patients, visitors, staff and volunteers about what they can do to help further cut the number of cases of infections like MRSA (bacteraemia) and Clostridium difficile.
The campaign includes hundreds of specially designed posters around the hospitals, floor mats at the entrance to every ward, and even giant life-size boards of Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins, joint medical directors Dr Ruth Charlton and Dr Martin Stockwell, and Director of Nursing Pippa Hart.
They focus on the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene whilst in hospital, and encourage patients and visitors to ask staff if they believe they have not washed their hands or are not bare below the elbows when providing direct clinical care.
Launching the campaign, Matthew said: "It reminds everyone in our hospitals – staff, volunteers, patients and visitors alike – that we all have a duty to keep our hands clean, and to reduce the spread of infections.
"We have been incredibly successful in recent years at reducing the number of infections in our hospitals. We have cut cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) by 75% since 2003-04, and we have reduced cases of Clostridium difficile from 268 in 2007-08 to 88 in 2010-11.
"However, I also believe that one infection in our hospitals is one too many. I know how much our patients, local people, and the general public care – rightly – about healthcare associated infections, and I am determined that we must do as much as we possibly can."
Backing the campaign, Pippa Hart said: "We know that healthcare associated infections can be prevented by remembering the basics: by washing hands with soap and water, or using alcohol rub, prior to and after providing clinical care."
Matthew added: "Patients, visitors and local people should be reassured that preventing infections in our hospitals remains our number one priority. The campaign is a visible demonstration of how importantly we take good hygiene, and that our hospitals are safe, clean places where people will receive the highest standards of care."
