Infection Control

We take infection control very seriously and as a Trust are working hard at reducing rates of infection.

One of the ways to help reduce infection is by following good hand hygiene practice.

Since January 2005 the Trust has been participating in the national ‘Cleanyourhands’ Campaign (112k).

As a visitor or patient you will notice bottles of hand gel sanitizer as you enter, and elsewhere in the wards. This is an alternative to washing hands with soap and water. You are invited to use the gel following the displayed instructions. If you are a patient and cannot get to a sink to wash your hands, please ask the staff to assist you, especially after going to the toilet and before eating.

The staff should be washing with soap and water, or cleaning their hands with the sanitizer before they attend to you as a patient. Please do not be afraid to ask the staff if they have cleaned their hands before they attend to you, it is possible that they have done so out of site and come immediately to you and will be happy to confirm this - Cleanyourhands patient leaflet (636k).

Occasionally when you visit the hospital you may notice a sign on ward door advising that it is closed due to an outbreak of viral diarrhoea. This type of outbreak often occurs during the winter months and is also common in schools and nurseries. In this instance it is important that you speak to the nurse in charge before seeing your relative. In an effort to reduce the spread of this type of virus we would request that you do not visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell - General advice to public (14k).

• Help Us to Help You (107k)

If your relative has an infection and it is necessary for them to be nursed in an isolation room, please speak to the nurse in charge and follow the advice of the notices on the room door. It is not necessary for you to wear disposable gloves and aprons, but, you must wash your hands or use the hand sanitizer on entering and leaving the room.

Deep Clean

Undertaking a deep clean is a key part of our strategy to improve cleanliness and ensure patients have confidence that their hospitals are a safe environment to be in.

The Trust have now employed an in house deep cleaning team which commenced their programme July 2008 . People want an NHS that is a clean and safe, the deep clean programme will help to reassure patients and build public confidence.

Burton Hospitals NHS Trust are committed to this and have ensured monies have been available to equip the team with the latest machinery ie: steam cleaning machines and Hydrogen Peroxide and chemicals ie: Virulsolve + (Bactericidal, sporicidal, virucidal, fungicidal concentrate)

Further Information/Advice

If you require advice, please contact the Infection Control Team on extension 4046 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

Further information available below:

• Infection Control Policy (128k)
• MRSA patient information leaflet (23k)
• C. difficile patient information leaflet (20k)
• MRSA / Clostridium difficile infection rates (HPA website)
• Infection Control Annual Report 2007-2008 (146k)
• Infection Control Annual Report 2006-2007 (141k)
• "Don't Infect, Protect" (1.37Mb)
• "The Facts about Infection" (161k)
• MRSA Screening Guidelines (122k)