Over 80% of primary care, mental health, ambulance and care trusts have signed-up for the National Patient Safety Agency’s (NPSA) cleanyourhands campaign. Registration closed at the end of April with over 170 trusts committing to improve the hand hygiene of healthcare workers in the fight against healthcare associated infection (HCAI).
The expansion of the cleanyourhands campaign follows its success in changing the hand hygiene behaviour of healthcare workers in hospitals and trialling of the campaign in 19 ‘pioneer’ organisations representing the mix of different care settings.
There has been a strong response to the campaign across the different types of trusts with 100% of ambulance trusts, 89% of primary care trusts, 83% of mental health trusts and 75% care trusts in England and Wales signed up.
Likewise by strategic health authority (SHA) region in England; with 100% of trusts in the North East SHA and 97% of trusts in London registered.
The campaign is now being rolled out in a phased approach. Trusts will first undertake a three-month preparation period, which enables them to ensure the internal systems are in place to manage the campaign and engage staff throughout their organisation prior to launch.
Any trusts who have not registered for the campaign will have the opportunity to join when stage two is rolled out next year.
The expansion of cleanyourhands outside hospitals has the potential to significantly reduce healthcare associated infections, as the majority of healthcare now takes place outside hospitals. Improving hand hygiene across all settings will also help to cut the risk of cross-transmission, as patients - particularly the elderly and vulnerable - often move frequently between care settings, for example from hospital to community hospital to care home and back again.
Martin Fletcher, chief executive of the NPSA, said: "Good hand hygiene is critically important to patient safety, confidence and satisfaction and we want to help staff to make healthcare safer across all care settings. The high levels of sign-up to this new phase of a totally voluntary scheme is a reflection of the dedication of NHS staff to constantly strive to improve patient safety and quality of life. Hand hygiene is on the public and healthcare agenda; we’re seeking to provide the practical tools to make a difference at the sharp end of care delivery. Hospital staff have really engaged with our cleanyourhands campaign. Now we’re seeking to replicate this commitment outside hospitals, to fight infection from as many angles as possible."
The cleanyourhands campaign supports NHS trusts to improve the hand hygiene of their healthcare workers in order to help prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections. Staff are prompted to clean their hands at the critical time and place - where and when patient care is provided.
Since the NPSA launched cleanyourhands in September 2004, it has been adopted by all acute NHS trusts in England and Wales. Independent research shows that the campaign has been effective in changing hand hygiene behaviour in acute NHS hospitals in England and Wales, with a significant increase in the use of alcohol handrub and the majority of trusts rating cleanyourhands as a top priority.
Participation in the cleanyourhands campaign is voluntary; trusts have been invited to sign-up to the campaign and receive the campaign materials, tools and resources free of charge. The supporting materials provided to trusts include posters and information for patients which explain the campaign’s aims and how they can play a role.