Top health boss encourages Altnagelvin and Trust staff to beware of infection threat

Dr Anne Kilgallen, Western Trust Medical Director said: “Our Infection Prevention and Control Nurses are getting behind this message and will be out and about this week to make staff aware that, although much has been achieved in preventing the spread of infection in our hospitals, it is more important than ever to be vigilant and continue to keep up their good work.”

The role of the Western Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control Team is to provide specialist advice on effective prevention and control measures.

The team implements evidence based practice, policies and guidance sharing expertise to reduce healthcare associated infection (HCAI). The result is a safer healthcare environment for both staff and patients.

The Trust chief made the comments during International Infection Prevention.

To raise awareness the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s (Western Trust) Infection Prevention and Control nurses have been out in force to encourage members of staff, patients and visitors to listen to the message ‘Clean Hands are Safe Hands’.

Dr Kilgallen continued: “It is our priority to ensure that there is a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI’s).

“One of our main objectives is to ensure staff perform hand hygiene correctly at the right time in the right place and so contribute to preventing HCAIs.”

Fiona Hughes, Head of Infection Control for the Western Trust added: “We are asking the public to make cleaning their hands a priority. If they or a relative is going into the hospital, remember: clean hands are essential to preventing infections. It is appropriate and acceptable to ask staff to clean their hands. Patients and visitors need to do the same. Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility.”

She concluded: “We have made huge improvements in tackling infection rates over recent years but it is vital that we all maintain this high standard. Good hand hygiene is the simplest and one of the most effective ways of tackling infections and it is important that we keep promoting best practice.”