Why are our wards pink today?
Westmead Hospital has covered its wards in pink to highlight the importance of clean hands in healthcare.
The colour pink represents the hand rub provided to healthcare workers and visitors at the facility.
Practicing good hand hygiene can help prevent healthcare associated infections.
The national requirement for hand hygiene rates is 80 per cent compliance and in April, Western Sydney Local Health District’s compliance rate was 88.3 per cent and Westmead Hospital’s was 87.4 per cent.
Acting cardiology step down nursing unit manager Kelly Bivona said hand hygiene is a big part of patient safety.
“Hand hygiene can stop the spread of infection from one patient to another or a staff to a patient,” Kelly said.
“Thanks to staff from the emergency department, cardiology, medical high dependency and geriatric rehabilitation for decorating their wards in pink.”
Hospital staff are reminded that there are five key moments when they should clean their hands:
1. Before touching a patient
2. Before clean/aseptic procedures
3. After body fluid exposure/risk
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching a patient’s surroundings.
