Infection Prevention and Control is a priority for us. We have a team of specialist Infection Prevention and Control nurses and doctors and our aim is to minimize the risk of infections for patients, visitors and staff.

What are we doing?

• We regularly train and update all staff on infection control issues

• We promote hand washing and the use of alcohol hand gel as one of the most important ways of preventing the spread of infections
• We work with our cleaning staff to maintain high standards of cleanliness in our hospitals
• We have invested millions of extra pounds in additional cleaning hours and services

What can you do to help?

It is important that staff, patients and visitors work together to reduce the risk of infections. Please:

• Use the alcohol hand gel or wash your hands as you enter and leave the ward
• Challenge staff that you think may not have washed their hands
• Don’t visit if you are ill, particularly if you have diarrhoea and vomiting or flu
• Limit the number of visitors to two per patient
• Report any areas of the hospitals that are messy or dirty
• As a visitor, don’t sit on beds
• Follow any advice on medications or treatment you are given
• Think carefully about visiting if wards are closed due to diarrhoea and vomiting

How are we doing?

We are regularly inspected for our standards of cleanliness and infection prevention and control. Over the last two years we have reduced the number of infections in our hospitals by more than half. They regularly reported to thre Trust Board.