Patients have a right to good hand hygiene

[coda123]

This is in response to Daisychain's important post about asking health care staff to practice standard infection control practices taught in every hospital to all health care staff. It is our right as patients to expect safe hand hygiene practices from all staff. Hospital staff are educated and expected to carry out safe hand hygiene practice and we should bring it to their attention if they are remiss. So often as patients we are intimidated from asking for safe practice because we feel so sick and become dependent on the staff to "like" us and give us good care. So we mistakenly decide to be quiet and at risk. I've been there and regretted it afterwards. It is hard to ask but this brochure from the CDC offers some handy phrases that bridge the awkward moment. cdc.gov/handhygiene/pdfs/Pa...

Good luck everyone and be brave as Daisy.

[Yellowbluebell]

I agree all nurses and doctors should be doing this anyway and hospitals are a breeding ground for germs and we already have antibiotic resistant germs. We don't need any more and we need to take them to task. Do it politely but dobt back down.xx

[Daisychain12 in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Ybb. Thank you. Of course you are spot on. Coda nails it by addressing the vulnerability sick and helpless patients feel and it can translate into fearful behaviour. I am not in the position of having visitors apart from OH and my son when he can. Not complaining I didn’t grow up here and illness has seen many friends drift away. But a reliance on staff is even more likely and so tools to address this issue are highly valuable. I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated all the comments. Xxxxx

[Daisychain12]

Oh coda. How really lovely and massively helpful of you. This is exactly what we need. As many of us need hospital now and then I would suggest printing it off and putting it in your overnight bag ready.

Thank you so much coda. And it’s fabulous that you started a new thread so EVERYONE sees it. Xxxxxxx

[coda123 in reply to Daisychain12]

glad to help xo

[MamaBeagle in reply to Daisychain12]

Good advice D. My OH had his knee done in France. When I was nursing we used to use the darker towel and flannel for below the neck and the lighter one for above. I sent him in suitably equipped but all to no avail. Neither did I see anyone - except me - use the hand gel! Well done for raising the issue D and for Coda's useful tips!

[Jackoh]

A very helpful leaflet and I’m sure gives Linda confidence that she is doing the right thing.

[Bonnie-ma]

I think this is a very helpful thread. As a retired nurse I feel that in general patients are too passive when it comes to taking an active role in their hospital care in this particular area. I was recently in hospital following surgery and I asked everyone who wanted to touch me if they had washed their hands. I tried to be polite. I was particularly suspicious of staff who kept their plastic gloves on - mostly care assistants. They seemed to think leaving gloves on meant they did not have to wash their hands between tasks. They were protecting themselves but putting patients at risk. I read here someone suggesting poor infection control measures should be reported to the Consultant/Doctor. Alas medical staff are often the worst offenders here!! After medication errors, hospital acquired infections are the biggest risks for patients in hospital so I am glad to read a lot of members here are being assertive.

I was at the checkout in a well known supermarket today and the checkout lady was coughing and sneezing into a wet tissue. She then handled my food items and my change. What could she do! Go home? I had to clean my purse and money when I got home but I don't want another winter virus this January thank you.

[coda123]

Hi Bonnie-ma, glad you mentioned the problem with gloved hands spreading infection.