Infection prevention and control

Preventing and controlling hospital acquired infections, including MRSA and C. difficile, is one of our top priorities. Our aim is to make the hospital as clean and safe for patients as possible. Alongside the cleanliness of our wards, we continue to focus on our programme of comprehensive training for staff, strict hand hygiene and careful use of antibiotics.

You can help us reduce the spread of infection by following a few simple guidelines.

Patients

You can help by:

Washing your hands frequently - especially before eating and after going to the toilet
Using alcohol rub before entering and on leaving ward areas - it is available at the entrance to all wards and in clinical areas
Wearing slippers when walking around the wards - this keeps your feet clean so that bacteria are not transferred from your feet to the bed
Not sitting on other patients' beds – this provides an ideal opportunity for bacteria to spread
Asking visitors not to come if they are feeling unwell themselves. When they do visit you, please ask them no to sit on your bed.

You can also help us to keep the hospital clean by keeping your bedside area tidy. This allows our cleaning staff to keep the area dust free. If you see any dirt or dust around your bed, or if the toilet or bathroom is dirty, please report this to a nurse.

Tell staff immediately if:

A dressing becomes loose
A wound or intravenous drip site becomes sore or painful
You believe they have not washed their hands or used alcohol rub
They are not bare below the elbows (they have clothing or jewellery below their elbows) when providing clinical care.

If a member of staff needs to examine you or perform a procedure, do not be afraid to ask if they have first washed their hands or used alcohol hand rub. If they are wearing gloves, check they have changed them before caring for you.

If you do not feel able to do this, but think that a member of staff may not have decontaminated his/her hands properly, please mention it to the ward sister/manager. Please note that hand hygiene after social contact such as shaking hands with you is not required.

In the unlikely event that you need isolated nursing in a single room or bay, please assist us in following the instructions given by staff. We have your best interests at heart and need to ensure the welfare of all of our patients.

Visitors

When visiting, please remember to:

Wash your hands or use alcohol rub when entering the ward and again before you leave
Sit on a chair, not the bed, otherwise you may transfer bacteria.

Please do not visit if you have any signs of infection such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, a cold, rash or skin infection.

If the person you are visiting is being nursed in isolation in a single room or bay, please contact the nurse in charge to find out if there are any precautions you need to take.

In general, you will not need to wear protective clothing such as gloves or aprons, but please do wash your hands when leaving the room or bay.