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21/10/2008
Health Hygiene Highlighted
The NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, is hoping that Ulster's health workers will catch the bug - 'the cleanliness bug' - with the launch a new, hi-tech, online manual for healthcare staff to help them prevent and control infections.
The Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual is available on the internet - and with full public access too as part of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's (DHSSPS) 'Changing the Culture' action plan.
Speaking at the start of a special 'Infection Control Week', the Minister said: "I am committed to combating healthcare associated infections. That is why we are taking a zero tolerance approach and the Trusts must do all they can to minimise the risk to patients.
"This manual will be a valuable resource for protecting patients. Its purpose is to make sure that, across Northern Ireland, best practice becomes standard practice.
"The manual complements other measures that I have already taken this year, including a £9 million investment for new initiatives like single rooms for new hospitals, a programme of unannounced hygiene inspections of all hospitals, restrictions on hospital visiting, a regional hand hygiene campaign, MRSA screening for high risk patients, and funding for a pharmacist in each trust area to work with clinical staff to promote safer prescribing of antibiotics," he explained.
The introduction of an information card for healthcare staff as part of the 'cleanyourhands' campaign has also drawn attention to the simplest of measures - with attention to the importance of hand hygiene in the fight against infections given prominence - giving advice on when hand rubs are appropriate and when they are not.
The Minister added: "A great deal has been achieved already through hard work by staff in the Trusts, but there’s always more that can be done to improve patient safety and earn public confidence," he said, also noting that it's not just a staff responsibility.
"It's important to remember that preventing infections is not just the responsibility of healthcare staff," he continued.
"Members of the public can make a big difference by taking simple measures such as hand-washing or not visiting hospital if they have a cold or viral infection," he concluded.
(BMcC)
The Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual is available on the internet - and with full public access too as part of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's (DHSSPS) 'Changing the Culture' action plan.
Speaking at the start of a special 'Infection Control Week', the Minister said: "I am committed to combating healthcare associated infections. That is why we are taking a zero tolerance approach and the Trusts must do all they can to minimise the risk to patients.
"This manual will be a valuable resource for protecting patients. Its purpose is to make sure that, across Northern Ireland, best practice becomes standard practice.
"The manual complements other measures that I have already taken this year, including a £9 million investment for new initiatives like single rooms for new hospitals, a programme of unannounced hygiene inspections of all hospitals, restrictions on hospital visiting, a regional hand hygiene campaign, MRSA screening for high risk patients, and funding for a pharmacist in each trust area to work with clinical staff to promote safer prescribing of antibiotics," he explained.
The introduction of an information card for healthcare staff as part of the 'cleanyourhands' campaign has also drawn attention to the simplest of measures - with attention to the importance of hand hygiene in the fight against infections given prominence - giving advice on when hand rubs are appropriate and when they are not.
The Minister added: "A great deal has been achieved already through hard work by staff in the Trusts, but there’s always more that can be done to improve patient safety and earn public confidence," he said, also noting that it's not just a staff responsibility.
"It's important to remember that preventing infections is not just the responsibility of healthcare staff," he continued.
"Members of the public can make a big difference by taking simple measures such as hand-washing or not visiting hospital if they have a cold or viral infection," he concluded.
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
