Roadshow to help prevent infections at Peterborough hospital

The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is starting a roadshow to help prevent infections at Peterborough City, Stamford and Rutland, and Hinchingbrooke hospitals.

This is part of International Infection Prevention Week, which runs from October 13 to October 19.

The trust hopes to reduce the impact of hospital-acquired infections, which make up 21 per cent of NHS England's bed capacity because patients have to stay longer.

These infections cost £2.7 billion each year, cause 28,500 deaths, and lead to 80,000 days of healthcare worker absence.

Peterborough City Hospital: Campaign to prevent infections (Image: Submitted)

The trust's infection prevention and control team will be at Peterborough City Hospital on October 7, where staff, visitors, and patients will be able to test their handwashing technique.

Infection prevention and control nurse, Michelle Newberry, said: “The Semmelweis machine uses a UV glow, it does not monitor how dirty your hands are but measures your technique, so you rub the UV gel in using the same technique as washing your hands and insert into the machine, this will then highlight the areas you have missed and give you a score out of 100 and useful tips to improve your technique.

“The IPC teams across all sites will be promoting the work of the team, which includes supporting our staff on the wards, liaising with other colleagues across the Trust and offer them – as well as our many patients and counterparts in the community – support, education, advice and care when it comes to the prevention and management of infection."

NHS trust launches campaign to help prevent infections (Image: Submitted)

Other events will be held throughout the week.

On October 8, there will be an MRSA display and distribution of patient leaflets at Peterborough City Hospital.

There will also be an information display board and the handwashing machine at Stamford and Rutland Hospital on October 10.