Clean Hands Make Safe Hands

(Stoke City fan Izaak James with Port Vale keeper Chris Martin, pictured supplied courtesy of The Sentinel)

Two Port Vale goalkeepers got the ball rolling for University Hospital of North Staffordshire's Infection Control Week.  

Stoppers Chris Martin and Daniel Lloyd-Weston met children and parents on Cheethams to test out the hospital's hand hygiene training.  

Rather than getting their hands dirty, Chris and Dan used special hand gel and ultra violet light to show where they need to clean their hands in the future.  

Chris Martin said:

"I'm really pleased we're able to support the initiative to highlight the importance of hand hygiene in hospitals. Obviously, as a goalkeeper it's vital to look after your hands but even more so for those people visiting the hospital. Hand hygiene in hospital is everyone's responsibility and I hope we can raise awareness of the need to use hand gel when visiting people in hospital."  

The visit, part of National Infection Control Week 19 - 23 October 2009, highlights the tremendous amount of work that University hospital staff do all year round to keep patients safe and free from healthcare associated infections.  

This year University Hospital is focusing on several infection control related issues, including the importance of hand hygiene, under the slogan "Clean Hands make Safe Hands".  

Robert Brown, Infection Control Nurse, said:

"One of the resources we use is our "Glow Germ" hand inspection box. This gives people the chance to measure the effectiveness of their own hand hygiene technique shows them why the "six stage" hand hygiene technique is advised for all of our care staff."  

For further information or assistance please contact Sue Pantin, Communications Manager, on 01782 555400 or Andrew Ashcroft, Communications Manager, on 01782 555061.