STARS from top rugby union side The Ospreys have been banging the hygiene drum at Glan Clwyd Hospital near Bodelwyddan.
Ospreys players were at the hospital to pass on the importance of hand hygiene.
The rugby union side are acting as hand hygiene ambassadors at the area’s largest hospital and were given a briefing from the hospital’s infection control team on the importance of maintaining cleanliness around the facilities.
Reena Cartmell, assistant director of nursing, said the visit was part of a drive to improve hygiene across the hospitals in North Wales.
She said: “We are always looking for new ways to keep reminding staff of the importance of hand hygiene and when we heard that the Ospreys wanted to visit we asked if they would kindly help us to publicise this campaign,” she said.
“We are pushing forward with our ‘bare below the elbows’ campaign, not only at Glan Clwyd but in all our Hospitals.
“This encourages members of staff to wear short sleeves so it is easier for them to wash their hands thoroughly when moving from one patient to another.”
The visit from 46 members of the side is part of the club’s communities programme, and follows the visit in 2008 of Wales internationals Gavin Henson and Gareth Owen to Glan Clwyd Hospital.
The players will also be visiting patients to encourage them to ask staff if they have washed their hands before treatment.
Ms Cartmell said: “They will also be reminding visitors of the part they can play in not spreading infections by using the alcohol hand rub when going onto wards, and not visiting if they have themselves been ill recently.”