"I would like to make a comment ..."

What could be improved

I would like to make a comment about the Norovirus that has now closed 5 wards in Southampton General Hospital. Having been a regular visitor to my mother-in-law for the past 5 weeks I have noticed how little the hand gels are used, by visitors and staff on entering and leaving the hospital. I have watched people on numerous occassions and staff generally don't use it at all and most visitors completely ignore it. On average 1 in 20 visitors are using the hand gels. Perhaps it would be a good idea for someone to visit Worthing hospital where there are large red banners across the ceilings and down the walls, at every hand gel point throughout the hospital, asking people to STOP and use the hand gels. This simple measure appears to work very well and while visiting there everyone used the hand gels. Come on Southampton General Hospital get this horrible virus out of the hospital and take some simple and cheap methods to hopefully remedy this situation.

Anything else?

I find it incredible that staff do not use the hand gels on a regular basis. They are not even used when coming round to take blood pressures and temperatures from patients. Surely they could be a carrier just as anyone else? This problem needs to be addressed as an urgent priority.