British experts take infection control campaign to Romania

April 15, 2011 - PRLog -- The DaRo Group has donated an ultra-violet hand hygiene inspection cabinet, which will be used as the main training tool, when leading British infection control experts deliver the campaign at the Zalau Emergency Hospital in the Salaj district of Romania in May.

The cabinets are used by NHS organisations across the UK for training staff in effective hand hygiene practices and they have been credited with playing a major role in the dramatic reduction of healthcare associated infections such as MRSA.

UK based charity Medical Support in Romania (MSR) will be delivering the campaign, which will be lead by Carole Hallam, Assistant Director of Infection Control at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. MSR was set up in 1990 by Patrick Colquhoun MBE, to improve healthcare and healthcare training in Romania. Since 1990 more than 200 medical and specialist personnel, mostly from the UK, have made 375 visits to Romania, mainly to the Zalau Emergency Hospital.

It was recognised major improvements were needed to the hospital’s infection control practices and since 1998 leading British infection control experts -  including those from the Health Protection Unit in Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust - have regularly visited  the 800 bed hospital to share best practice and provide training. The hospital now has a dedicated infection control doctor, supported by a team of five nurses.

However, further improvements are still needed and the latest campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene.

Carole Hallam said: “We are delighted DaRo has agreed to make this donation as it will make such a huge difference to the campaign. I have used these cabinets for many years as a training aid because they provide a visual impact on the effectiveness of hand hygiene techniques and they are an excellent way to improve the practice of hand hygiene.

“The campaign in May will aim to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene amongst staff and patients at the hospital with the hand cabinet being the main focus. Despite the limited resources at the hospital the staff are keen to learn and make improvements to prevent healthcare associated infections.”

DaRo Group Managing Director Damon Goodyear said: “It is well documented that improved hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent cross contamination. If we can help spread that message to other places in the world then we are delighted to help and pleased to make this donation.”

Notes to editors:

For more information of the hand hygiene inspections cabinets go to www.handinspection.co.uk

Members of the media needing more information should contact communications and media consultant Patrick Lowman on 01787 370120 or 07792 428555 or by email patrick_lowman@sky.com

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Patrick offers a full PR and copywriting service. He specialises in securing regular, positive publicity for his clients and has implemented several successful media campaigns. His clients range from public sector organisations to various businesses.