Infection prevention and control is an important part of keeping patients, service users, visitors and staff safe. Everyone has a role in helping to prevent infections from spreading.
The Western Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control Team provides specialist advice and support across our hospitals and community services. The team helps to prevent and reduce healthcare-associated infections through infection surveillance, outbreak support, staff education, evidence-based guidance and improvement work.
Protect patients: please visit when you are well
Please postpone your visit if you feel unwell or think you may have an infection, including:
- a high temperature;
- a cough, cold, sore throat or flu-like symptoms; or
- diarrhoea or vomiting.
If you have had diarrhoea or vomiting, please wait until you have been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours before visiting.
If you are unsure whether you should visit, please contact the ward or department before attending.
How patients and service users can help
- Clean your hands regularly, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
- Do not share toiletries or personal items.
- Keep your bed, chair or care area tidy and free from unnecessary belongings.
- Tell staff if a wound, dressing, drip, catheter or other medical device becomes painful, loose, wet or displaced.
- Report any concerns about cleanliness to a member of staff.
- You are welcome to ask staff if they have cleaned their hands before providing care.
How visitors can help
- Clean your hands when entering and leaving the ward or care area.
- Do not visit if you are unwell.
- Follow advice provided by ward or department staff.
- Do not sit on the patient’s bed or touch wounds, dressings or clinical equipment.
- Keep the patient’s bedside area tidy.
- Speak to staff before entering an isolation room.
- Check with staff before bringing food, flowers or other items into a clinical area.
If you have a concern
If you have concerns about infection prevention, cleanliness or your care, please speak to the nurse in charge, ward manager or department manager.
Further information
- Hand Hygiene Information for Patients and Visitors
- Healthcare-Associated Infections: Leaflets for Patients and Visitors
- Norovirus Information
- Healthcare-Associated Infections Patient and Visitor Leaflets