Practice good hand hygiene habits to help save lives

The latest flu report from Public Health England has shown growing numbers of cases reported by GPs and hospitals in the past two weeks.

Public Health England declares that one of the most important ways to prevent ill health and control the spread of infections is through good hand hygiene. Ensuring proper hand washing facilities are readily available is essential to prevent unnecessary loss of life, ward closures as well as maintain staffing levels which often decimate hospital rotas.

Manty Stanley, managing director of TEAL Patents, said: “Flu and, complications associated with it, cause 8,000 deaths on average a year in England. It is universally acknowledged that hands are the principal route for cross-infection. Simply by encouraging medical staff to adopt a simple hand washing habit before and after treating patients, can save lives in healthcare establishments.

“Hospitals must ensure staff, patients and visitors have abundant access to hand washing facilities wherever and whenever they may be needed to help prevent the spread of illness and infection."

Stanley concluded: “By following the gold standard of hand hygiene – washing hands with soap under warm, running water – it should prevent bugs from spreading.”

TEAL Patents, a manufacturer of portable hand washing units, has developed a range of hot water basins to support infection control departments. Hand hygiene standards can remain high at all times if doctors and patients are able to wash their hands swiftly with soap, under running warm water, whether or not there’s access to mains water supply or drainage.

TEAL’s range includes the WashStand and PatientWash. Fully portable, each unit can be taken directly to patients or to any area most at risk.