The WA health system is committed to delivering the highest quality health care for all Western Australians.
Research has shown that improving the hand hygiene practices of healthcare workers can reduce the spread of potentially harmful microorganisms (germs) in hospitals.
Improving hand hygiene protects patients and healthcare workers and has been shown to reduce the number of healthcare associated infections.
Our infection control practices are among the best in the world. Maintaining excellent levels of hand hygiene practices in WA hospitals is one way our healthcare workers deliver safe and high quality patient care.
WA hospitals have worked to improve healthcare worker access to hand hygiene products. This includes placing alcohol-based hand sanitisers within each patient’s bed space, or in some cases at the foot of each patient’s bed.
Along with existing infection prevention practices, WA Health is also involved with the National Hand Hygiene Initiative, which includes ongoing education programs and continual monitoring and reporting of healthcare associated infections.
This will ensure we will limit the spread of germs in our hospitals.
Posters
Visit Healthy WA for hand hygiene information for consumers (Healthy WA).
More information
Infection Prevention Policy and Surveillance Unit
Email: handhygienewa@health.wa.gov.au
Last reviewed: 16-03-2022