Local resident supports regional NHS hand in hand campaign

LOUISE BOYCE, a Domestic Assistant with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is one of the faces promoting the third regional NHS infection control campaign.

NHS East Midlands, the strategic health authority, contacted all local NHS trusts during the winter asking for staff to take part of this year’s campaign which involves posters and a film to promote hand hygiene.

Louise was nominated in her role as a Domestic Assistant for the campaign.  She was chosen to be one of the faces for the poster and tv advertising campaign which has been shown across the region.

Louise said: “The hand in hand campaign is really important and helps to show the public that we do a good job in keeping our hospitals clean and infection free. It reinforces important messages about the use of antibiotics and hand hygiene.

“Taking part in the poster campaign and filming was good fun, and I know that my face will be appearing on posters across the region in NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and possibly even on the back of buses!

“I am proud to have been chosen as one of the faces for this campaign and keen to promote cleanliness across all NHS sites because everyone wants to see patients and staff in a clean and safe environment.”

Louise started with Northamptonshire Healthcare in 2004 in catering services before becoming a Domestic Assistant at the Trust’s Headquarters at St Mary’s Hospital in Kettering.

The campaign started in February across the East Midlands with week long activities and will run until the end of March. Monday 8 March sees the start of Northamptonshire taking the campaign forward.

A quiz machine highlighting true/false questions as well as infection control staff demonstrating hand-washing techniques will be available during Northamptonshire’s week at:

• 8 and 9 March – Northampton General Hospital
• 10 and 11 March – Kettering General Hospital
• 12, 14 and 14 March – Kettering Borough Council shop, 3 Gold Street, Kettering

The Hand in Hand campaign features NHS staff and members of the public holding up true / false paddles when asked about antibiotics, hand hygiene and cleanliness. Articles and adverts will also appear in local newspapers, the high street and public toilets.

The third Hand in Hand campaign is co-ordinated by East Midlands Strategic Health Authority to promote the importance of hand hygiene, cleanliness and fighting infection together.