With regular audits and strict hygiene standards we work hard and place great importance in reducing the risk of infection for you and your visitors, and our staff.
Infection prevention is key to your safety
If you're ill, injured or have an opening, such as a wound or tube placed in the body, you're more at risk of developing an infection.
Infections can increase the time it takes you to recover and lead to a longer stay in hospital or worse.
How you can help
- please follow our hand hygiene guidance
- if you notice that a ward area, toilet or bathroom is dirty, please tell a member of staff straight away and they will arrange for it to be cleaned.
If you are a patient:
- try not to touch your wound, drip or catheter and don't take off your dressing
- ask friends and relatives not to visit you if they are unwell.
Why can't all infections be avoided?
However hard we work, not all infections can be avoided – you may:
- already have an infection when you come into hospital
- be having surgery or treatment that increases the risk of infection
- have a low immune system (the body's defence system), making you more vulnerable to infections.
Patient information videos
To help our patients with their preparation for surgery and to equip them with information on how to manage their wounds to prevent wound infections after surgery, the Infection Prevention and Control Department have new animated patient guidance videos.
All our patients are advised to start watching the videos at and after pre-assessment clinics up until the wound is completely healed.
Reducing the risk of wound infection
Surgical wound healing
What causes wound infections