Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is marking World Hand Hygiene Day today, May 5, by reminding the public of the importance of handwashing in preventing the spread of infection.
This year’s theme is ‘Together. We can accelerate action to prevent infections and antimicrobial resistance in health care and build a culture of safety and quality in which hand hygiene improvement is given high priority’, emphasises the critical role of hand hygiene in reducing the spread of infections and saving lives.
Hand hygiene helps prevent and control the contraction and spread of infections, particularly in healthcare settings. Regular hand washing or sanitising can significantly reduce the risk of viruses and infections such as Covid-19 and protects patients, visitors and healthcare workers from harmful bacteria and MRSA.
Greta Johnson, Director of Infection Prevention and Control said, “At the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we recognise the importance of promoting the highest standards of infection prevention and control. On World Hand Hygiene Day, we are reminding all our staff, patients, and visitors about the importance of hand hygiene in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.”
She added, “We are committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients, and hand hygiene is a crucial part of that commitment. By promoting good hand practices and raising awareness about the risks of poor hand hygiene, we can help prevent the spread of infections and protect the health of our community.”
Staff, patients and visitors can work together to reduce the risk of infections by washing hands regularly and or using hand sanitisers provided in all facilities across the Trust. Other measures the public can take include:
- Don’t visit the if you are ill, particularly if you have diarrhoea and vomiting or flu
- As a visitor, please don’t sit on beds as this can spread infection
- Take advice from nursing staff if wards or bays are closed due to an outbreak
The Trust is proud to be part of this initiative, and is committed to promoting hand hygiene as a key part of staff and patient safety efforts and invite everyone to join in promoting hand hygiene in their communities and workplaces.
Watch a demonstration of how to correctly and hygienically wash your hands here.