UHSM is again demonstrating that infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility with an eye-catching video featuring members of staff, and music courtesy of 70's disco favourites Village People.

The band's most famous song YMCA has been transformed into MRSA, with words reflecting the importance of clean hands to help reduce the rates of hospital associated infections (HCAIs).

UHSM's 'Infection Prevention - It's Everyone's Responsibility' campaign has been running for two years, and is a constant reminder to staff, patients and visitors of the need to be vigilant and ‘hygiene aware’.The campaign focuses on the need for good hand hygiene, both washing hands and using the alcohol hand gel dispensers around the hospital, and calls on staff to strictly adhere to UHSM’s ‘bare below the elbows’ dress policy for clinical areas. It has included two previous pop videos, posters and electronic communications to staff, all starring staff and patients.

The concept for the campaign was developed by UHSM Communications Department following national research which showed that barriers to good infection prevention techniques included lack of leadership and lack of belief that individual efforts made a difference.

This campaign challenges these perceptions by using UHSM’s own staff, from all areas of the Trust, including Board members, clinical directors, surgeons through to scientists, clerical staff, domestics and porters - demonstrating that all staff, no matter who they are or what their role, are required to help prevent infections. 

Director of Communications Susan Osborne said "Using our own staff brings the message closer to home, so it is absolutely clear to everyone that this is an issue that affects them, their colleagues and their patients.  It also demonstrates ownership and commitment by people at all levels of the organisation to infection prevention.”

The Trust’s figures for HCAIs since the launch of the campaign show just how effective the campaign is. UHSM’s cases of hospital acquired MRSA have seen a 70% reduction compared to the number of cases we had at this point two years ago. The rate of C.difficile infections is down 50% over the same period.