RESIDENTS in Great Yarmouth and Waveney will be encouraged to take the hand hygiene message to heart during a special week designed to highlight measures everyone can take to limit the spread of infection.

RESIDENTS in Great Yarmouth and Waveney will be encouraged to take the hand hygiene message to heart during a special week designed to highlight measures everyone can take to limit the spread of infection.

During infection control week, which runs from Monday , staff from NHS Yarmouth and Waveney will be giving out advice and information on simple steps that everyone can follow to tackle infections such as Clostridium difficile and MRSA.

And on Monday between 9.30am and 11am, infection control staff will be on hand at the ASDA store in Lowestoft to show shoppers just how many bugs they have on their hands - even when they think they are clean.

The team will use a “glow and tell” box to highlight the areas on people's hands where germs and bugs can accumulate. The equipment will help demonstrate just how thoroughly people should clean their hands before preparing food or after using the toilet.

Rosie Collier, community infection control support nurse, said: “Infection control is an extremely important part of our work and we are keen to show that everyone can play their part in limiting the spread of potentially serious infections.

“One of the most important things we can all do to reduce the chance of getting or passing on infections is to wash our hands thoroughly. Hands are the most common way for germs to be passed around and, even if they don't look dirty, can be carrying large numbers of germs.

“Some of these germs can be dangerous and can make us or other people, particularly vulnerable people like the very young or old, extremely ill. Washing well with soap and water and then drying thoroughly will help to protect yourselves and those you love from infections.”

NHS Yarmouth and Waveney are also encouraging patients to check that their doctor, nurse, dentist or any other healthcare worker has been practising good hygiene as part of the national “cleanyourhands” campaign.

Mrs Collier added: “We want to patients to feel comfortable asking their healthcare worker if they have cleaned their hands, and are encouraging everyone to adopt the hand hygiene message.

“By working together, we can make a real difference to reducing incidents of infection.”