The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the 5 moments for hand hygiene and when they should be performed and this is endorsed in the Epworth Hand Hygiene Policy:
- Before touching a patient
- Before a procedure
- After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk
- After touching a patient
- After touching a patient's surroundings
Jewellery with the exception of a plain flat band (i.e. wedding band) must not be worn by healthcare workers with direct/indirect patient contact. Bracelets, wrist watches and rings with stones or ridges must not be worn during working hours by any healthcare worker with direct/indirect patient contact.
Any breaks and/or lesions of the skin are possible sources of entry for pathogens. Any breached skin (cuts, dermatitis or abrasion) should be covered with a semi-permeable film dressing.
Details on Epworth's Hand Hygiene policy are available at Hand Hygiene Protocol.
Please note that you will need to be logged into the staff Intranet to access policies.