LOCAL hospitals have joined forces to remind people about the role they play in keeping infections out of hospitals.

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are working hard to prevent and reduce the spread of hospital-acquired infections this autumn and winter, but members of the public can help by following a few simple tips:

• Do not visit hospital at all if you, or any members of your household, have had any kind of sickness and/or diarrhoea in the past 48 hours – even if you think it may be food poisoning

• Always use the alcohol hand gel provided when entering and leaving a ward

• Always wash your hands after using the toilet

Local hospitals in Bournemouth and Poole have excellent hygiene records and robust procedures for managing infections. However, with the onset of winter, the public can make a real difference in helping to prevent the spread of infections like Norovirus, the winter sickness bug.

The easiest way to stop the spread of infection is through good hand hygiene. This means washing hands regularly throughout the day with soap and water, and using available alcohol hand gels to disinfect hands before you visit a friend or relative in hospital. Remember, alcohol hand gel will not remove dirt from your hands – you need to wash your hands with soap and water if they are dirty.

If you are due to come into hospital for a planned procedure or operation and have been unwell with any kind of sickness and or diarrhoea it is important you ring the hospital to discuss this before you come in.

Jacqueline Campbell, Senior Infection Control Nurse from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital said: “We are actively committed to reducing infection and work tirelessly with our staff, patients and visitors to achieve this.

“In 2010/11 to date we have not seen any cases of MRSA and we remain within our target for Clostridium difficle rate. This is great news for patients and is testament to how hard staff are working, but we are not complacent. We are continually working on new initiatives to reduce infections within our hospitals. For example, all wards and departments now have an allocated Infection Control Resource Nurse who provides education and support within their designated area with issues concerning infection control.”

Denise Richards, Matron for Infection Prevention & Control at Poole Hospital said: “It’s essential that visitors to the hospital understand they have a role to play in helping us to keep infections at bay. By staying away from the hospital if you have had symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting in the last 48 hours, and using the hand gels we provide, you can help to make our hospitals safer.”

If you have any concerns about infection control issues please ask to speak to a member of the infection prevention and control team at the hospital that you are visiting, or visit the hospital website.

The NHS in Dorset has produced a short film offering advice on hygiene at home and in hospital. You can watch a copy of the infection control film at rbch.nhs.uk/infection_prevention/fight_infection.shtml