Tips
The five top tips for hospitals visitors from Scotland's Chief Medical and Chief Nursing Officer are:
- Think about keeping patients safe before you visit someone in hospital. If you, or someone you live with has a cold or diarrhoea, or if you feel unwell, try to stay away until you're better.
- Wash and dry your hands before visiting a hospital ward, particularly after going to the toilet. If there is alcohol hand gel provided at the ward door or at the bedside, use it.
- Ask ward staff for advice before you bring in food or drink for someone you are visiting in hospital.
- If you visit someone in hospital, don't sit on their bed and keep the number of visitors to a minimum at any one time. Never touch dressings, drips, or other equipment around the bed.
- If you think NHS premises are not as clean as they should be, let the Sister or Charge Nurse know. If you think a healthcare worker has forgotten to wash their hands, remind them about this.
NHS Lanarkshire has introduced new alcohol hand gel dispensers to help fight healthcare associated infection. Within hospital wards, gel dispensers will be available at the end of or near the patient bedside.
Relatives and visitors are encouraged to use the alcohol hand gel when they visit a hospital ward. To use the alcohol hand gel, press the front of the dispenser. Massage the alcohol gel over visibly clean hands until dry. If hands are visibly dirty please was with soap and water. Alcohol hand gel should be used in addition to proper hand washing, not as an alternative.
Thank your for your cooperation in helping to reduce the risk of infection.