Clean your hands

We can all play a part
We are committed to improving patient safety by reducing and preventing infections. 

On these pages you will find more information about how you can help to keep our hospitals clean and reduce the risk of spreading infection. 

Clean Your Hands
Cleaning your hands is the most effective way of preventing germs being passed from one person to another.  It is easy too!

Our hospitals wards have alcohol gel dispensers by most beds and at the entrances to all wards for staff and visitors to use to help stop the spread of germs.

Who should wash hands?
All of us – including patients, visitors and staff on a regular basis.  It is an ‘everybody responsibility.’

When should you wash hands?
Visitors should wash their hands (with soap and water):

• after visiting the toilet
• before eating/handling food
• if your hands are dirty
• before visiting a patient and again immediately after leaving the patient

Staff with direct patient contact should wash their hands or use the alcohol gel:

• before and after any procedure they perform (such as dressing wounds or adjusting a drip or catheter)
• between each patient contact

If a member of staff needs to examine you or perform a procedure, do not be afraid to ask them if they have cleaned their hands.  We would encourage you to challenge staff so that they are constantly reminded of the importance of clean hands.

Remember – it’s okay to ask.

How should you wash hands?

• remove jewellery
• wet hands
• apply soap and rub together for at least 15 seconds, making sure that all areas of both hands come into contact with the soap
• rinse all of the soap off your hands and then dry your hands
• apply alcohol gel and rub together for at least 15 seconds making sure all areas of the hands are covered with the gel
• you do not need to rinse or dry after using the gel

Click here for 6-step guide to effective handwashing