World Hand Hygiene Day marked at Dungarvan Community Hospital and Dunabbey House

Management, staff and residents at Dungarvan Community Hospital and Dunabbey House were joined by Community Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialists recently to mark World Hand Hygiene Day

This annual World Health Organisation awareness event is an opportunity to highlight to all staff, visitors, patients, partners and family members, the importance of hand hygiene in helping prevent the spread of infection. Evidence tells us that good hand hygiene remains the single most important, effective and least expensive means of reducing the prevalence of healthcare associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Speaking in Dungarvan Community Hospital on the day, Pamela Landers (Clinical Nurse Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control, HSE) said:

“Cleaning your hands properly, at the correct time, when delivering care to our clients, as well as assisting them to carry out their own, is the most effective way to stop the spread of many infections. When healthcare workers like doctors, nurses and carers keep their hands clean, they help prevent the spread of serious healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). These are infections that can happen in any healthcare service.”

Paula French (Director of Nursing, Dungarvan Community Hospital and Dunabbey House) added:

“Dungarvan Community Hospital and Dunabbey House have an excellent record in hand hygiene but we are always looking to improve our standards. Celebrating World Hand Hygiene Day helps us to refresh and energise our hand hygiene approach among staff and residents. Hand Hygiene is not just aimed at those delivering care, but at everyone who comes into a healthcare facility, including clients and visitors.”

Our message on World Hand Hygiene Day is that some infections found in healthcare facilities can be very serious. We can all help stop the spread of these infections by making sure that staff, clients and visitors clean their hands.