Our staff will help to protect patients by washing their hands, or by cleaning them with hand sanitiser. The wearing of face masks is no longer a requirement, but masks will remain available for those who wish to wear one and you may continue to see staff using masks following a risk assessment. We also provide hand sanitising stations at all main entrances.
Infection prevention has an important role to play in ensuring that patients receive a high quality of care with an improved clinical outcome. It is also seen as an indicator of the quality and safety of patient care and a representation of how clean the Trust is. We are committed to preventing the spread of infections within the hospital environment and in our community healthcare settings. If you have any worries regarding infection prevention during your stay or as a visitor please arrange, through your nurse or a member of staff, to speak with our Infection Prevention Team.
Hand hygiene
The simple act of washing your hands is effective in preventing the spread of infections. Germs can be brought into the hospital by anyone and they can be spread to other people especially patients whose immune system is low due to illness. To help reduce this, we ask everyone to sanitise their hands on arrival at one of the sanitisation stations located at all main entrances. Hand sanitising gel is also available throughout our buildings and at ward entrances.
All staff across the Trust receive training on infection prevention. The training is mandatory. The staff on the wards are monitored to ensure they adhere to the strict policy for washing their hands and are empowered to challenge each other should the need arise. Patients can ask any member of hospital staff if they have washed their hands before commencing any care with them.
Healthcare associated infections
Healthcare associated infections (HCAI) can occur as a direct result of healthcare intervention or from being in contact with a healthcare setting.
The HCAI term represents a wide variety of infections, some of the more common infections we see are:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Clostridium difficile (C.Diff) and;
- Gram negative infection such as E.coli.
The Trust has strategies in place to reduce any risk which include, keeping your environment clean, providing access to hand hygiene and hand decontamination, management of waste and processes to monitor our clinical areas.
How you can help
- Maintain good standards of personal hygiene (body and hands)
- Ensure you wash your hands after using the toilet
- If you visit the bathroom or toilet and are concerned that it does not look clean, report it immediately to the nurse in charge. Request it is cleaned before you use it
- Always wash your hands or clean them with hand sanitiser immediately before eating a meal
- Do not be afraid to ask the member of staff who is examining you or performing a procedure if they have first washed their hands or used hand sanitiser.
- Patients should keep their locker and bed-table free from clutter. Too many things make it more difficult to clean your locker and bed-table properly, any toiletries can be stored in your locker for your personal use.
We want to keep you, your family, other patients and our staff safe while you are here. Coronavirus passes from person to person quickly and easily and is a real risk to those around us. You can pass it on to people even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.
We all have a responsibility to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Because we care, we may ask you to do things differently while you are here.
While I am at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. I understand that I will be asked to:
- Wear a mask. Patients should wear a mask (covering your nose and mouth) at all times unless you are not able to (this will be agreed between you and your care team). All carers and visitors should wear a face covering at all times, unless exempt.
- Make space for others. Two metres is the safe distance to stay from other people in hospital. Patients and visitors should not sit on other patients’ beds or seats, share food or drink, pick up or move items that are not theirs, or physically help other patients. Ask a member of staff if you need help.
- Stay in one place to keep people safe. Please do not visit other parts of the hospital unless asked to by a member of staff. If asked to stay in a waiting or treatment area, please stay there. If you want or think you need to go somewhere, check with your care team first.
Our staff play an important role in keeping our hospital safe. It’s ok to remind doctors, nurses and fellow patients that we need to make space for each other and to cover our mouths and noses. Reminders can help us all to look out for each other.
