Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has launched a new campaign which will focus on improving safety and care for patients across North Wales.

The new Safe Clean Care campaign is focused on setting out essential Infection Prevention and Control actions which are required from all staff, patients and visitors.

In order to significantly improve the safety and care of patients who visit and stay at hospitals, alongside ensuring hospital environments are clean and clutter free.

The Health Board is committed to providing Safe, Clean, Care. Staff, visitors and patients will shortly see new signage and activities in our hospitals designed to raise awareness of the key elements of Safe Clean Care.

Gill Harris, the Executive Director for Nursing and Midwifery said: “Our Safe Clean Care call to action is designed to provide support, training and resources for our staff.

“The campaigns aim is to reduce our patient infection rates and improve the quality of care for our patients. Safe, clean care is everyone’s responsibility and we will be encouraging our staff to commit to six key elements that include:

  • All staff cleaning their hands before and after each patient contact, and encouraging patients and visitors do the same.
  • Staff working in clinical areas will be asked to be ‘bare below the elbows’, the only way to ensure that hands can be cleaned properly.
  • There will be a renewed focus on making sure that wards and departments are clutter free.
  • If a patient needs to be cared for in isolation, where possible this is done within two hours, by placing them in a single room, keeping the door closed and wearing personal protective equipment.
  • Safe care of devices such as catheters will be a priority and there will be a renewed focus on the correct prescribing of antibiotics.
  • Prudent antibiotic prescribing; and when antibiotics are required they are stopped as quickly as possible

Gill continued: “Myself and my executive colleagues our making our commitment to challenge in a supportive and positive way any practice that doesn’t allow us to provide Safe, Clean Care, and I hope staff, visitors and patients will join me.”

Patients and visitors are urged to help us by cleaning hands before and after a visit, and to ensure our staff wash their hands before touching a patient .

The public are also reminded to not visit hospitals if they have been ill within the last 48 hours.

Further information is available on http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/94747

If you have any thoughts or ideas about how to improve care to patients please email on bcu.safecleancare@wales.nhs.uk