Clean hands save lives
Did you know that within 30 seconds of applying an alcohol-based hand cleaning solution to your hands, you have reduced the amount of bacteria and viruses carried on the skin of your hands by more than 1000 times?
Today, Wednesday 5 May, is International Hand Hygiene Day and Hunter New England Health is raising awareness of the importance of practising good hand hygiene - including health staff, patients and visitors.
“Careful attention to hand hygiene is an important patient and personal safety message for people who work at and visit hospitals and other health care facilities, but it’s also an important message for everyone in our daily lives,” Director of Infection Prevention and Control Dr John Ferguson said.
“We should always follow basic hand hygiene principles by thoroughly washing hands with warm soapy water after going to the bathroom and before handling food.
“If you are attending a health care facility, as either a patient or a visitor, you can help us reduce infection rates by using alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands.
“Alcohol-based hand solutions and gels are kind on the skin, are less drying and less irritation occurs than with hand washing,” he said.
Hunter New England Health facilities use these alcohol hand rubs and gels in all patient care areas, including the entrances to wards, clinics, community centres, at nursing stations and at the end of patient beds.
“Patients have every right to ask their health care provider about whether their hands are clean and we actively encourage them to do so,” Dr Ferguson said.
As part of a national effort to improve hand hygiene by healthcare staff, HNE Health has trained observers at each hospital site to regularly check that staff are cleaning their hands before and after seeing every patient.
“The most important way in which infections spread is by hands that are contaminated with microorganisms. Frequent cleaning of hands is an essential safe practice for healthcare staff, patients and visitors,” he said.
As an organisation, Hunter New England Health is committed to improving observance of correct hand hygiene.
This includes participation in Five Moments for Hand Hygiene program, in collaboration with Hand Hygiene Australia, the Clinical Excellence Commission and NSW Health.
“Together with our staff, visitors and patients in our hospitals can have a significant impact on reducing healthcare infection by ensuring good hand hygiene,” Dr Ferguson said.
Contact: Gemma Smith
Phone: 4985 5522