Medics face blitz on sloppy hand-washing

Workers at a Black Country hospital who fail to wash their hands enough will face disciplinary action under a new "three strikes and you're out" crackdown on superbugs.

Nurses and doctors will be subject to regular hand hygiene audits as part of Walsall Manor Hospital's recently launched zero-tolerance policy, designed to stamp out potentially fatal infections.

Those caught failing to wash on three separate occasions will be hauled before managers. It follows more than 100 cases of superbugs which were recorded at the hospital last year.

Hospital spokeswoman Anna Sykes said the move showed the importance of infection control was to bosses.

"This is proof of how seriously we take hygiene at Walsall Manor," she said.

"It is one of a number of measures planned as part of the recently-launched Give Infection the Elbow initiative.

"While hand hygiene among staff is very important, it is also crucial that patients and visitors observe the guidelines too.

"Together everyone can make the difference in reducing the spread of germs and infection."

A total of 114 patients at the hospital were tested positive for Clostridium Difficile – C. Diff – in 2008/09, while a further 21 had the potentially fatal illness MRSA.

Although 12 of those found to have MRSA caught the infection before being admitted, bosses admit the hospital will miss its target of 10. The C. Diff target of 114 cases was met.

Health bosses say the 12-month figures were low compared to other hospitals,and said that fighting infection was the subject of a new campaign.

Earlier this month, Bruce George MP praised the hospital after a national report on hygiene gave it a clean bill of health.

The Manor, which is run by Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust, was not given any warnings or conditions by the Care Quality Commission watchdog which monitors efforts to tackle MRSA and C. Diff infections.