Big hand for NHS hygiene

NHS Lothian staff are now among the best handwashers in Scotland, two years after being criticised for poor hygiene.

The latest audit of workers in hospitals has shown around 95 per cent of employees maintain a good level of hand hygiene, one of the best in the country.

Handwashing has been pushed to the top of the health agenda by the Scottish Government in a bid to tackle superbugs and other infections.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has a "zero tolerance" approach to those who do not comply with guidelines.

Two years ago health chiefs threatened even the most senior medics with disciplinary action if they did not wash their hands between seeing patients and handling certain equipment.

That warning has prompted a drastic improvement in all areas of the health board.