Download Reducing the risk of infection

Infection Prevention and Control Team Reducing the risk of infection – what you can do to help Information for visitors Infections in hospital are a worry for everyone. We need your help to reduce the risk of infection. By working as a team, healthcare workers, patients and visitors can all make a difference and reduce the risk of spreading infections. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust takes infection prevention very seriously. Hand decontamination The single most important way of reducing infection is by cleaning your hands. Bacteria and viruses, which cause infections, can be carried on your hands and passed from person to person or from contaminated objects to people. Hand gel is provided at all entrances to the hospital and at all ward entrances. Please clean your hands using the gel on entering and leaving the hospital and any department. Things you can do to help Make sure you are in good health before visiting.  If you have recently had diarrhoea and/or vomiting, you must be symptom free for at least 48 hours before your visit. If you have a heavy cold, flu, or a chest infection, please do not visit until the symptoms have gone. This is particularly important if you are visiting a patient on the oncology (cancer) or haematology wards, or on the intensive care/ high dependency units. Hand gel is not effective against viruses causing diarrhoea and vomiting, so you will be asked to use soap and water instead if appropriate. General advice Bacteria like warm moist environments, therefore hospitals provide an excellent breeding ground for these bacteria.  If you have any open wounds, please cover them with a clean, waterproof dressing before you visit. Some infectious conditions, for example chicken pox, shingles and mumps, may be a problem to patients, especially babies, children and adults with a vulnerable immune system. Please do not visit patients if you have been in contact with anyone who has an infection. If you have any  To assist with maintaining high standards of cleanliness, only bring in essential items and try to keep the patient’s personal belongings in the designated locker  Keep to visiting times and the number of people allowed (usually two)  Occasionally visiting is restricted to reduce the risk of infection, for example when there are outbreaks of flu or diarrhoea and vomiting. Please comply with the restricted visiting ‐ this is to protect patients and visitors doubts, please contact the Infection Prevention and Control Team for advice before you visit.  Please do not sit or lie on the patient’s bed, use the visitors’ chairs provided  Do not use the patients’ toilets  Never touch a patient’s wounds, drips, lines or tubes and so on. If you do so accidently, please wash your hands immediately  If you are visiting more than one patient, please clean your hands between each patient. You should visit non‐infectious patients first 2
 Biscuits, sweets and fruit can be brought in for patients, ideally in wrappers or a sealed container and in small quantities. Other food is not recommended unless specifically agreed with the ward staff Patients in isolation Patients may be cared for separately in a single room or with a group of patients in a room with a closed door with a yellow Isolation sign on it. This is to prevent the spread of infection.  Flowers are not allowed on wards near patients, other than the maternity unit Before entering the room, please speak to a member of staff first. You will need to cover any wounds you may have, but do not need to put on gloves, apron or a mask unless specifically requested to do so by the nursing staff. Before you leave the room, you must wash your hands thoroughly and use the gel as you leave the ward.  Please do not go into the ward kitchen unless you have been given specific permission to do so  Please speak to the ward staff if you have any concerns about the cleanliness of the environment or contact the Domestic Services Department via the appropriate hospital switchboard: Patients may also be cared for separately in a single room because they are at an increased risk of acquiring an infection. These rooms have a blue Protective Isolation sign on the door. 
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Andover 01962 863535 Basingstoke 01256 473202 Winchester 01962 863535 Unless specifically requested by the nursing staff, please do not enter the room if you have a cough, cold, upset stomach or have been in contact with any infection. Speak to a member of staff before entering the room to confirm you can visit. You will need to wear aprons and gloves to visit these patients. Children and babies We do not encourage you to bring babies or young children onto the ward because hospitals can be unsafe for them, except in areas where children are patients. Infection Prevention and Control Team If you do need to bring a child into hospital to visit, please ensure they are constantly supervised. Hospitals contain many pieces of sensitive and delicate medical equipment which must only be touched by suitably qualified staff.  Andover War Memorial Hospital Telephone: 01962 825156  Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Telephone: 01256 486774 Please place babies or young children in their pram, pushchair or on your lap ‐ do not let them crawl around the floor. Do not place them on the patient’s bed or allow them to run around the ward.  Royal Hampshire County Hospital Telephone: 01962 825156 www.hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk Infection Prevention and Control Team May, 2013 Review May, 2014 FCS/ 034/ 2013 © Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3