Wear masks, clean hands, stop germs

Making sure your hands are clean and you are wearing a mask is very important. It can can stop the spread of germs.

This is especially important when you’re coming into hospitals and places of care. Patients can be more at risk due to having illnesses, conditions, or they may be receiving treatment. This means they can become very poorly if they catch an infection. 

Masks can be collected at the entrance to our buildings. Please wear them at all times to protect yourself and others. 

Cleaning of hands should be done: 

• When entering and leaving our buildings 
• When entering and leaving our wards or outpatient departments 
• Before, and after, you eat or help someone else with their food 
• Before, and after, helping a relative with any personal care 
• After using the toilet or changing a nappy 
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing 
• When your hands are visibly dirty 
• When you arrive home 

You should wear a mask when going to the restaurants. Please keep your mask on when you are in the queue.

If you are eating in the restaurant, you should put your food down on the table, remove your mask, go and put it straight in the bin and clean your hands. Do not place your mask on dining tables or nearby surfaces.

Once you have finished eating you should clean your hands and get a new facemask on your way out of the restaurant.

Alcohol gel: 

We have hand hygiene stations at our entrances with alcohol gel provided. These should be used by everyone every time they enter or leave. 

They can also be used around our hospitals as a quick and convenient way to clean your hands. 

Watch this short video on how to clean your hands properly using hand sanitiser - WHO: How to handrub? With alcohol-based formulation   

Please note, if your hands are visibly dirty or you’ve used the toilet you should always wash your hands with soap and water at one of our sinks. 

Soap and water: 

Where a sink is available, please wash your hands with soap and water. You should also do this if your hands are visibly dirty or you have used the toilet. 

Please click the link to watch a short video or read instructions on how to wash your hands - How to wash your hands - NHS 

Your facemask should cover both your nose and mouth. Only touch the straps when putting it on and taking it off. Once you have put it on, do not touch it. Please do not let it dangle around your neck or under your chin.

Click the link to watch a short video - facemask wearing.

Please speak to a member of our staff. 

Please remember to be kind and respectful at all times.

If you already wear a face covering, there is no need to wear a facemask as well. Your face covering must not be loose and it must cover your mouth and nose.

All of our staff should wear masks:

• when in any ward or clinical area.
• when in any patient waiting room areas.
• when in any public areas of our sites (including corridors and restaurants).

As a patient or visitor in hospital, you should expect to see all healthcare workers clean their hands before and after they provide care. If you are not sure if they have, please just ask. 

All staff are trained in the importance of hand hygiene and will not mind being asked. Sometimes they may have washed their hands out of your sight, so asking them will reassure you they have clean hands. 

Please remember to be kind and respectful at all times.

Maskwearing will stay in place until the end of January. We will review the position then and update.

We will always ask people to clean their hands on their way in and out of our sites. This is to prevent the spread of germs.