HSE/SECH Media Statement
14 February, 2024
In reviewing developments throughout 2023 in its services, the HSE’s Haywood Lodge facility in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary has picked out, as one of the highlights, its joining in the implementation of the national “Resist” hand hygiene campaign.
Resist is a brand for a number of hand hygiene and infection prevention and control initiatives under the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control programme (AMRIC).
One of these initiatives is a rollout of the Resist hand hygiene awareness programme.
The programme promotes a combination of hand hygiene training with standardised national training materials. Hand hygiene has been at the forefront of all of the initiatives that the HSE has been implementing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and Resist is being rolled out to refresh our hand hygiene messages and to keep promoting the importance of clean hands.
Haywood Lodge, which opened in 2012, is a purpose-built HSE/South East Community Healthcare Services mental health services facility that comprises two wards, East and West House. East House provides care and treatment for residents under the care of the Psychiatry of Later Life team. West House provides care and treatment for residents under the care of the Rehabilitation and Recovery team. Both houses are similar in layout and are made up of single en-suite bedrooms.
Speaking about Haywood Lodge’s participation in “Resist”, its Assistant Director of Nursing, Lisa Grant said:
“Cleaning your hands properly, at the correct time, when delivering care to our residents, is the most effective way to stop the spread of many infections including COVID-19. When healthcare workers like doctors, nurses and carers, keep their hands clean, they help prevent the spread of serious healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). These are infections that can happen in any healthcare service. Haywood Lodge has a good record in hand hygiene, but we are always looking to improve our standards. The Resist programme will help us to do that and we are delighted to have been selected to be part of the rollout in HSE residential mental health facilities.”
“Along with hospital staff, residents and visitors, all have a role to play to help stop the spread of Healthcare associated infections and join the superbug resistance. Residents can play a big part in reducing the spread of infection. This programme will help us to refresh and energise our hand hygiene approach among both staff of the hospital and residents. The Link Practitioners, our Hand Hygiene Trainers and our Infection Control Nurses, help us to do this.”
Speaking recently at Haywood Lodge, Michelle Hennebry (HSE Infection Control Nurse Specialist, South Tipperary) added:
“As a programme, Resist is not just aimed at those delivering care, but at everyone who comes into a hospital or residential care facility, including residents and visitors. We will be intensifying the campaign across the South East over the coming months and are delighted that Haywood Lodge has today taken part in promoting such an important programme.”
“The HSE/South East Community Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Team are always looking to improve our Infection Control standards. The Resist programme and Link Practitioners Programme are two ways we can do this at local and hospital level. I wish to particularly thank Aoife Nolan, (Clinical Nurse Manager 1 in Infection Prevention and Control for South Tipperary Mental Health services) and management’s assistance from Lisa Grant (Asst. Director of Nursing) and Kate Beaton (Clinical Nurse Manager 3), who highlighted the event to all areas within and around the campus. There was a large turn out and participation from all staff disciplines within South Tipperary Mental Health services for our Resist launch in Haywood.”
Additionally there are things we can continue to do, in conjunction with encouraging and assisting the residents to do, to protect themselves from picking up an infection or super bug.These include but are not limited to the following:
- Remain up to date regarding antimicrobial stewardship
- Ensure your hand hygiene training is up to date
- Advise residents regarding the following;
- Clean your hands regularly, using the alcohol hand gel available
- Clean your hands before you eat, and wash your hands after you go to the toilet
- Avoid sharing your personal things with other residents - for example, your phone
- Remember it is OK to remind a staff member or your visitors to clean their hands
- It is OK to tell a staff member if you see anything that is not clean
Last updated on: 14 / 02 / 2024
