Hospitals across Tayside and Fife have seen an improvement in handwashing hygiene levels, according to new figures.
The statistics, released by Health Protection Scotland, show that 94% of medical staff at NHS Tayside washed their hands properly during the national hand hygiene audit at the end of November, compared with 92% between May 21 and June 1.
In Fife, 97% were said to have satisfied the agency’s strict hand-hygiene regulations for the same period, compared to 96% between May 21 and June 1.
The measures are in place to try to reduce the spread of infections such as norovirus and the flu.
Other NHS areas did not fare so well. NHS Grampian saw an alarming drop in the number of staff washing their hands properly, with only 88% of employees complying with health measures, compared to 99% between May 21 and June 1.
NHS Tayside infection control general manager Dawn Weir said: “It’s pleasing we’ve had improvements since the previous audit period in the autumn.
“However, we don’t wish to be complacent and continue to reinforce the message that infection control is everyone’s business.”
Medical director for NHS Fife’s operational division Dr Gordon Birnie said: “Results in Fife have been above the national average for the last two years and this has contributed to the very low rates of infections such as C difficile seen in Fife hospitals.”