Hospital aims to blast bugs in campaign

9:35am Tuesday 25th January 2005

A NEW campaign to prevent hospital acquired infections such as MRSA has been launched by Ealing Hospital.

The Clean Your Hands campaign was launched at the hospital last Tuesday in partnership with the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) in a bid to encourage members of staff to use alcoholic hand gel to clean their hands between patients.

Professor Christine Beasley, chief nursing officer at Ealing Hospital who lives in Ealing, said: "I am very pleased to launch such a positive campaign in my local hospital.

"The current focus on hospital acquired infections and cleanliness is very positive, and has been very much helped by initiatives such as the National Patient Safety Agency's Clean Your Hands campaign."

The hospital will have more alcohol handrub containers installed at the end of each patient's bed and staff will carry their own supplies in areas where this is not possible such as paediatrics. There are also hand decontamination points at the entry to each ward for use by all types of staff, patients and visitors.

All the Ealing Hospital staff are committed to this pledge and have signed a large hand which will be displayed in the main entrance of Ealing Hospital to serve as a constant reminder of its ongoing campaign and commitment.

Dr William Lynne, medical director at Ealing Hospital, said: "I am the executive sponsor of this campaign and am very impressed at the support provided from the Department of Health and the NPSA. I hope the hand will serve as a visible reminder to all staff and patients about Ealing Hospital's commitment to patients' safety."

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is found on the skin or in the noses of healthy people and can get into the body through cuts.