Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS is taking to disseminate guidance on the benefits to hygiene of people in hospitals washing their hands.

Hand hygiene policies are a local responsibility, however, guidance and central support are available. For example, The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, which all providers in England must take account of, covers hand hygiene. The Code is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-health-and-social-care-act-2008-code-of-practice-on-the-prevention-and-control-of-infections-and-related-guidance

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standard on Infection Prevention and Control, which is endorsed by NHS England, the Royal Colleges and other professional bodies, includes a quality statement on hand decontamination. The statement is available at:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs61/chapter/Quality-statement-3-Hand-decontamination