Infection prevention and control
Patients & Visitors
Patients
Preparing for your hospital visit
- Information needed medical aid
- What to get from your medical aid
- What to bring
- Your hospital room
- Identification
- Valuables
- Meals
- Television
At Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital we work hard to ensure that patients receive the very highest standard of healthcare. Although the risk of getting an infection whilst in hospital is low, careful attention to infection prevention and control is a crucial part of keeping our patients safe.
Through various initiatives we are successfully reducing the spread of healthcare associated infections.
The cornerstone of successful infection control is hand hygiene. Staff at all levels are given training in this. There are posters up all round the hospital reminding everyone about the importance of good hand hygiene.
Methods to prevent infections
People who are in hospital can be more vulnerable to catching illnesses and infections. This can result in their recovery being delayed.
By taking simple actions relatives, visitors and patients themselves can help us in our mission to keep infections to a minimum.
- Use the alcohol hand rub when you go into a ward/department and when you leave. Alcohol hand rub is more effective against germs, than hand washing.
- If for some reason you cannot use the hand rub please wash your hands with soap and water at the nearest basin.
- Posters at the hand rub stations will guide you on “How” to use the hand rub.
- If bottles of alcohol gel are empty please tell a member of staff
- If you notice that a staff member may not have washed or put alcohol gel on their hands, challenge them – they are happy to be reminded. They may also challenge you in a friendly way!
- Stay at home if you have a cold, infection or stomach upset and only visit if you have been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours
- Use the chairs on wards not the beds
- Please don’t eat and drink in the patient’s room
- Tell a staff member if you have any particular concerns about infection control
- If a patient is in isolation please follow the instruction on the poster on the door or ask for assistance before you enter and exit. No exceptions regarding these procedures can be made.
Your wellbeing is important to us.
