Anyone who has visited a hospital in recent months would notice the appearance of a little bottle of pink liquid near every patient's bed. This is an innovation that has won Wollongong hospital a health award.
Months ago Wollongong hospital was in the news for all the wrong reasons. To it's shame - it was named for the worst record in the state for hospital to patient transfer of infections, including methicillin resistant staphylococus - the dreaded " Golden Staph ".
Some genius introduced that little bottle of alcohol based hand rub and encouraged nursing staff to disinfect their hands regularly - and it worked !
The old method of washing hands is more time wasting and that is a big factor in a busy hospital that is chronically under staffed. These bottles of hand rub are more readily available than sinks and water taps - and the hands dry instantly without the need of a paper towel.
This award is well deserved. Now would be a good time for other branches of our health system to listen - and learn.
We have a problem with food processors. From time to time there are outbreaks of Salmonella and other diseases - and in many cases the cause is poor hand hygiene by food workers.
If an alcohol based hand rub works in hospitals, it would surely work in the food preparation industry, and because it would be more readily available than conventional sinks and towels - it would be much more likely to be used..
Time to extend the hygiene thinking - and definitely time this regions food health inspectors started to demand alcohol based hand rub be implemented in all places where food is prepared.
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