Infection Control

Papworth Hospital Foundation NHS Foundation Trust

Theatres, Critical Care & Anaesthesia

Extensions: 4490 / 4852 Fax: 364338

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Anaesthetic SpRs, Surgical SpRs, SCPs, DCPs, Anaesthetic practitioners, Perfusionists
cc: Consultant Anesthetists, Consultant Surgeons, Consultant Microbiologist, Director of Nursing, Human Resource Manager, Gavin Bacon
From: Pam Blomiley
Date: 21st January 2010
Topic: Infection control in the anaesthetic rooms and operating theatres.

The Theatre Hand Hygiene Audit has averaged over the last 9 months only 74% compliance with Saving Lives: reducing infection, delivering clean and safe care.

In order to improve these results and therefore improve infection control it is imperative for staff to change their behavior in this area.

Hand hygiene - Wrist watches and hand decontamination

The World Health Organizations Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Healthcare puts the importance of effective hand hygiene at the centre of patient care. They have also highlighted how this helps to significantly reduce Hospital Acquired Infections.

Those staff involved in delivering treatment / care in the clinical area are not to wear wrist watches (part of the bare below the elbow policy adopted by TCCA) whilst carrying out any patient contact. Furthermore before and after each patient contact staff must adopt the bare below the elbow principles and clean their hands.

Bags

Staff must not bring their bags / rucksacks into the anaesthetic rooms or the operating rooms.

All staff employed within TCCA are provided with a locker and therefore are expected to store their belongings in their locker.

If you have any questions with any of the above please do not hesitate to speak to either of us.

 

Roger Hall
Clinical Director
TCCA
Pam Blomiley
General Manager
TCCA