NHS Borders clinical guidelines
Zero tolerance hand hygiene - supportive management protocol
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Page 2 paragraph 3, typos corrected in section 3.0 paragraph 3
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Objectives
The aim of this protocol is to support optimum patient and staff safety through effective hand hygiene.
Scope
Hand hygiene is considered to be the single most important practice in reducing the transmission of infectious agents, including Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI), when providing care.
This Zero Tolerance Hand Hygiene Protocol should be read in conjunction with Chapter 1: Standard Infection Control Precautions Policy which provides full detail of the required hand hygiene practice and process.
This protocol provides a supportive approach to respond to non-compliance with hand hygiene for healthcare workers at all levels.
Audience
This protocol reflects current national guidance and supports mandatory requirements.
As a condition of their contract with NHS Borders, staff are professionally accountable and are required to adhere to NHS Board policies to ensure the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff.
If it can be demonstrated that an individual repeatedly fails to comply with NHS Board policies, they could be found in breach of contract and as such, could be subject to a conduct or capability process.
This Zero Tolerance Protocol applies to individual staff member’s non-compliance with hand hygiene, it does not relate to departmental performance.
NHS Scotland’s Workforce Conduct Policy sets out the current arrangements for addressing and maintaining standards of conduct at work.
