INFECTION CONTROL It is important that patients, staff and visitors keep their hands clean by hand washing or using the hand sanitiser provided outside each room and ward entrance. This will help to prevent spread of germs between people and places, especially when entering the wards and departments. Infections can be caused by germs that are carried on people’s skin before they come into hospital. Infections can also be acquired while staying in hospital and passed on by the hands of patients, staff and visitors. This is why cleaning hands with either soap or water or hand sanitiser is very important to keep everyone safe from germs. Germs (bacteria and viruses) are collected every single time we touch objects such as door handles, faucets, hand rails and door locks. Our domestic teams clean these and many other areas frequently. Even when hands appear to be clean, germs are not able to be seen without a microscope; therefore, people do not always recognise the need to clean their hands frequently. All of our staff are trained to wash their hands correctly and you will see them carrying this out frequently when they are looking after you. The Infection Prevention and Control Nurse will be happy to talk to you if you have any questions.
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