Hand hygiene campaign launched (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hand hygiene campaign launched

11:01am Tuesday 2nd September 2008 in Swindon By Raeanne Nightingale

Swindon PCT launched its 'cleanyourhands' campaign yesterday to ensure safer care for its patients.

The authority is one of the first Primary Care Trusts to launch the initiative after completing a three-month preparation period.

The 'cleanyourhands' campaign is an award-winning, NHS-funded initiative to help reduce healthcare associated infections through improving hand hygiene and prompting healthcare staff to clean their hands at the critical moments immediately before and after every patient contact.

In its third year for NHS acute hospitals, the scheme has now been extended to include other NHS trusts; primary care, ambulance, mental health and care trusts in England and Wales.

Judith Blackstock, Assistant Director of Clinical Governance at Swindon PCT, commented: "It is incredibly important for all NHS staff to carry out good hand hygiene practice, as this simple precaution could potentially save lives.

"Improving hand hygiene is important for everyone, and we all share a duty to work together to prevent patients or service users picking up avoidable healthcare associated infections."

Participation in the 'cleanyourhands' campaign is voluntary.

Trusts are invited to sign up to the campaign and receive campaign materials, tools and resources free of charge.

For more information about the campaign, visit: www.npsa.nhs.uk