Great hospital handwash makes history

“Looking for smart ways to engage with people on serious issues like infection prevention and swine flu is often a challenge. Today UHSM has taken that challenge and made it work for Wythenshawe.”

Paul Goggins
Wythenshawe & Sale East MP

A thousand people helped make UHSM history with the world’s first Great Hospital Handwash.

The main car park was a sea of faces and arms as staff, volunteers, patients, public - and the local MP - demonstrated good hand hygiene techniques. And on wards and in offices, people joined in with the moves as the old Black Lace classic Superman was reworked into Super Hands, with suitable words taken from the seven point Hand Hygiene Code.

Wythenshawe MP Paul Goggins rushed from a meeting to join in, and said the initiative demonstrated a hospital in tune with the community it serves.

Chief Nurse Mandy Bailey spoke to the crowd about the importance of good hand washing hygiene. “Infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility and the initiative was all about getting over a serious message in a fun way. Judging by everyone’s enthusiasm I believe we did just that.”

It is hoped that The Great Hospital Handwash will make it into the Guinness Book of Records and a video of the event has been recorded, which can be seen below. You can also view the Channel M coverage here.