'Tis the season to sneeze

West Suffolk Hospital’s ‘Staying Well This Winter’ campaign highlights the need for hand washing facilities to be visibly available on hospital wards and waiting rooms. Infection control experts at West Suffolk Hospital requested that a number of TEAL’s Stop n’Wash portable units be placed around the hospital at various points of need.

It may come as no surprise that noses carry millions of bacteria but many are unaware that up to 50 per cent of all people carry the potentially harmful staphylococcus bacteria which makes sneezing one of the easiest ways for germs to run rife. The best preventative measure to combat illnesses from the common cold to norovirus is proper hand washing.

Manty Stanley, MD at TEAL Patents, said: “By making TEAL units available, the hospital allows all to enjoy the gold standard of hand hygiene – washing hands thoroughly with soap under hot, running water."

TEAL Patents manufactures portable, hot water, hand wash units that require no access to mains water or drainage. The TEAL Stop n’Wash has been designed to educate and encourage the correct hand washing procedures. The unit features a synchronised video display taking users through the seven hand rubbing actions as specified by NHS guidelines.