Health Minister Andy Burnham has launched the second year campaign in the National Patient Safety Agency’s “cleanyourhands” initiative.
The award-winning “cleanyourhands” initiative, which began implementation across NHS hospitals in England and Wales in September 2004, is designed to prompt healthcare staff to clean their hands at the critical moments immediately before and after every contact with patients.
The cornerstone of “cleanyourhands” is the availability of alcohol hand rubs, either near patients or carried by staff. Supporting materials include posters and information for patients explaining the initiative and how they can play a part in reducing healthcare-acquired infections.
The key themes for the second year of the initiative’s four-year programme focus on the power of the individual as the agent for change and on the critical importance of hand hygiene at point-of-care.
