Uniform swap to beat infections

12:57pm Saturday 12th January 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

NURSES and therapy staff at Salisbury District Hospital will swap their old style uniforms for scrubs from Monday as part of the Trust's approach to protect patients from infections.

As part of a new uniform policy, other staff involved in direct patient care will also wear short sleeves and will be required to remove wrist watches and wrist jewellery.

Tracey Nutter, Director of Nursing said: "Although infection rates at Salisbury District Hospital remain low, we are always reviewing our policies and procedures and introducing measures that help prevent the spread of infection."

"Infections such as MRSA and Clostridium Difficile can be passed on by human contact. They can also live for a while on equipment or clothes.

"Nursing staff are the key staff group where scrubs could make a real difference to our infection prevention and control procedures. This is because, unlike most other staff groups, they have that very close regular contact with patients."

Nursing staff will wear a clean pair of tunic and trouser style scrubs at the start of each shift, with used sets washed daily at very high temperatures using an industrial process in the Trust's on-site laundry. Staff will not be able to wear scrubs outside the hospital.

As part of its ongoing commitment to infection prevention control at Salisbury District Hospital, regular campaigns will continue to ensure that staff, patients and visitors use alcohol gels to limit the possible spread of MRSA and are aware that soap and water should be used against Clostridium Difficile.