Hand hygiene improvements noticed in Scottish NHS

Audits of hand hygiene in NHS Scotland revealed that the situation has improved according to the aims of the National Hand Hygiene Campaign.

The initial compliance audit last February showed that 69 per cent of healthcare facilities were complying with guidance of washing hands with soap or alcohol rubs.

By February 2008 compliance was 87 per cent, the Scottish government health directorate’s Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) task force found.

Overall, NHS Boards were found to be ranging in compliance from 79 per cent to 89 per cent.
The compliance audit noted: “It is well recognised that hand hygiene is the single most important factor in reducing and preventing avoidable illnesses.”

It added staff must accept this and “”perform hand hygiene effectively and in a timely fashion”.

Recent research undertaken by the NHS Clean Your Hands campaign revealed staff complained of not having sufficient access to hand cleansing equipment.