Clean hands, stop germs

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

That’s why we say ‘Clean hands save lives’. 

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 

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 

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.