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'Virtual' nurse promotes hand hygiene
30th of January 2012
A 'virtual' nurse who greets visitors and reminds them about the need for good hand hygiene is being trialled at a hospital in the UK.
This is the first time such a futuristic approach to infection control has been used. The trial at University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust is being funded by cleaning services provider Interserve
Ultraviolet wands used in hospital cleaning
26th of January 2012
Cleaning inspections at a group of Canadian hospitals have become much more high-tech, thanks to the use of hand-held ultraviolet lights.
Vancouver Island Health Authority staff identify and mark 10 of the 'most touched points' in a given room or area of a health facility. Inspectors return 24 hours later and shine a UV light on the areas. If the
Small companies create most new EU jobs
24th of January 2012
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) created 85 per cent of new jobs in the EU between 2002 and 2010, according to new figures from the European Commission.
An average of 1.1 million new jobs were created each year during the eight-year period. Employment growth for SMEs was one per cent annually, compared with 0.5 per cent for large
Dutch cleaners' strike continues
23rd of January 2012
Over 2,500 cleaners marched through The Hague in the Netherlands earlier this month, calling for respect and pledging to continue their strike action.
The cleaners say their employers have still not responded to them on the issues they have raised, such as sick pay, enough time to do the job properly and more respect and appreciation.
After the
Reliance on gloves leads to poor hand hygiene
19th of January 2012
Healthcare workers who wear gloves when treating patients are less likely to wash their hands between patients, according to a British study.
Experts acknowledge that wearing gloves is appropriate when workers know contact with bodily fluids is likely, but the study suggests healthcare workers appear to be substituting glove use for additional
Passengers sue over smelly ship
17th of January 2012
Unhappy passengers who sailed on a cruise ship are taking legal action against the cruise line because of unpleasant smells and poor hygiene.
The claims are being made by 205 holidaymakers who sailed on Thomson Cruises' Thomson Dream between May and October 2010, immediately following its acquisition from Costa Cruises. They relate to to issues
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