The public is being urged to adopt the maxim two s company, three s a crowd when visiting friends and relatives in hospital. The advice comes as part of a new five-point poster campaign aimed at tackling Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) launched today by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS).
Two's Company, Three s a Crowd aims to cut infections
The public is being urged to adopt the maxim two s company, three s a crowd when visiting friends and relatives in hospital. The advice comes as part of a new five-point poster campaign aimed at tackling Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) launched today by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS).
NHS QIS have developed five tips the public can follow to help the Health Service fight HAI. The tips are:
Not too many visitors at once: two s company, three s a crowd
Don t visit if you are feeling unwell
Wash your hands before visiting
Never touch dressing, drips or equipment
Talk with staff if you are concerned
The campaign, which includes further tips aimed at NHS staff, follows a recent NHS QIS report which outlined how NHS Boards are performing against the national standards it has set on controlling HAI.
The report found that although higher priority is being given to tackling HAI, more still needs to be done to turn policies and procedures into effective practice and improved prevention. A further report will be published in spring 2005. Commenting, NHS QIS Director Jan Warner said:
The management and control of infection must be a high priority for everyone involved with the NHS in Scotland. This campaign aims to remind everyone working in and visiting our hospitals that they have a crucial role to play in helping us to lower infection rates.
Whenever someone is in hospital, it s only human nature to want to visit. We just need to make sure we don t take unwelcome bugs and bacteria in with us.
These simple tips will really help in stopping the spread of infections and the public can play a crucial role in making sure every hospital in Scotland has the very best infection control standards possible.
Speaking at the launch, NHS Lothian Infection Control Nurse Rona Broom said:
Common sense is probably our biggest ally in fighting the spread of HAI and it s the little things that are really important if we are to get a grip on infections. So we are saying, if we get the simple things right, we can make a huge impact.
Wash your hands before you enter the hospital. If you ve got a cold or a stomach bug, don t bring it into a ward. Don t handle drips or dressings and don t take too many people visiting at once. And, if you re concerned or not sure about something, just ask. Speak to the staff in the wards and they can follow up with the infection control teams. That way we can get everyone s help and get a grip on HAI.
Click here to download a PDF file of the posters.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Background on HAI:
NHS QIS has set standards for tackling HAI. Hospitals are now being monitored against these standards.
Estimates show that at least 33,000 patients in Scotland develop one or more infections every year.
HAI is a major factor in an estimated 457 deaths and a contributory factor in a further 1,372.
The annual cost to the NHS is up to #186 million and 380,000 bed days are lost as a result of discharges being delayed, wards being closed and operations being cancelled.
Background on QIS and the Campaign:
NHS QIS has been established to lead in improving the quality of care and treatment delivered by NHSScotland. To do this it sets standards and monitors performance, and provides NHSScotland with advice, guidance and support on effective clinical practice and service improvements.
In addition to the tips for the public, five staff tips are being promoted. They are:
Know the risks of infection, and how to control them
Call on the expertise and support of the infection control team
Clean your hands between each task
Dispose of dressings and equipment safely
Raise any concerns