Is the NPSA saying that conventional handwashing at the sink is no longer important?
A. Not at all. There will always be a place for what some are calling conventional hand washing. In particular, handwashing at the sink is always recommended if your hands are physically soiled and dirty or if treating a patient with diarrhoea or vomiting. The campaign advocates providing alcohol handrub as all the evidence suggests that washing hands frequently with soap and water: • is inconvenient; • time consuming; • often causes skin irritation; and • often causes dryness. The alcohol handrubs are designed to make it easier for staff to clean their hands quickly with a minimum amount of effort and skin irritation. Alcohol handrubs can be used on the move.
