Infection Control
We can all play our part to help limit and prevent the spread of infection.
If you are visiting our hospitals for treatment or to see a loved one please take a look at the advice below.
Patients
- If you have not seen our staff clean their hands before they touch you please just say: "Have you cleaned your hands?"
- Always wash your hands after going to the toilet and before touching food
- Please use the hygienic hand rub provided at the entrances to wards and departments
- Tell a member of staff if you notice anywhere that has not been cleaned properly such as the ward, bathrooms or toilets
- If you have a drip, drain or catheter that becomes sore please check with your nurse if it needs changing
- Please take the whole course of any antibiotic medicines you are given
- You should wash your hair and take a bath or shower as usual at home before coming in for surgery
- If you have diarrhoea please tell the nursing staff
Visitors
- Please do not visit the hospital if you are unwell with cold-like symptoms or diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms
- Please do not sit on the bed. If there are no chairs available please ask a member of staff to provide you with one
- Any children visiting must be supervised all the time, so that they do not touch equipment or dressings
- Make sure you wash your hands on the ward or use the hygienic hand rub before and after visiting a patient in hospital, and follow advice on notices of side room doors
- Check how many visitors are allowed in at any one time
- Please inform a member of staff if you are concerned about any aspect of cleanliness
The Infection Prevention & Control Service
The Infection Prevention and Control service enables staff to minimise the risk of Health Care-Associated Infections (HCAI’s) to patients. The Team deliver a vision of no person being harmed by a preventable infection.
Infection Prevention and Control is high on government and public agendas and is a key objective for Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. One of the key aspects of the team is to ensure that the Trust is compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Hygiene Code (2023) and deliver support to trust services based on contemporary evidence base.
The service includes:
- Provision of education and training to all disciplines of staff
- Audit of clinical practice and the clinical environment
- Surveillance of HCAI’s
- Prevention and control of outbreaks
- Advisory support
- Patient reviews and support
Telephone number: 01604 545785.
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