Doctors and nurses at hospitals in Lancashire have launched a new dress code in an effort to encourage better hand hygiene and reduce the risk of infection.
Staff at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital, part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are implementing a new “bare below the elbow” dress code.
Dr Alastair Campbell, Medical Director, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Clinical personnel are being asked to wear clothes with fabrics that withstand frequent washing and to ensure that their clothing allows the wearer to easily clean their hands up to the elbow.
“We’re asking staff to remove jackets. Any long sleeved shirts or blouses with sleeves should be rolled up to the elbow to ensure effective hand washing.
“Ties do not have to be worn, but should be tucked into the wearers shirt if they are, so as to not drape over the patient or clinical surfaces.”
He added: “The public are rightly concerned about infections and we want to encourage our staff and make it easier for them to clean their hands. This new dress code will help restore public confidence in the NHS and will remind staff of the need to wash their hands.”
Staff at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital, part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are implementing a new “bare below the elbow” dress code.
Dr Alastair Campbell, Medical Director, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Clinical personnel are being asked to wear clothes with fabrics that withstand frequent washing and to ensure that their clothing allows the wearer to easily clean their hands up to the elbow.
“We’re asking staff to remove jackets. Any long sleeved shirts or blouses with sleeves should be rolled up to the elbow to ensure effective hand washing.
“Ties do not have to be worn, but should be tucked into the wearers shirt if they are, so as to not drape over the patient or clinical surfaces.”
He added: “The public are rightly concerned about infections and we want to encourage our staff and make it easier for them to clean their hands. This new dress code will help restore public confidence in the NHS and will remind staff of the need to wash their hands.”
