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Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust UCL Institute of Child Health
 

Children and families

Coming to GOSH

Keeping GOSH clean

Keeping the hospital clean and preventing infection is only possible if we all work together. Each bed space or cubicle has a poster outlining how you can help us and information is also available in our Infection control and prevention (PDF, 216KB) information sheet.

We need your help too

Please help us by washing your hands frequently and asking your visitors too, keeping the area around your child’s bed clear, telling us if you think you or your child has an infection and reporting any areas that need attention to a member of staff as soon as you notice them.

Infection control

All hospitals in the UK have an Infection Control Team of doctors, nurses and scientists who are all specially trained in microbiology, virology and infection control. The team at GOSH is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to offer advice and guidance to hospital staff. They also monitor all infections in the hospital and are responsible for the prevention and control of infection outbreaks.

The team works closely with staff within the hospital through a ‘link’ system. This means that each ward and department has a ‘link member of staff’ who is responsible for making sure everyone in their area is up to date on infection control standards. The Infection Control Team also works closely with all our ward teams to ensure they are kept up to date with infection prevention and control.

Ward housekeepers

Each ward has its own housekeeper who is there to make the stay of patients and families as comfortable as possible. Amongst other things, they will help you with your child’s menu, provide meals and snacks throughout the day, inform you of local shops and amenities, arrange accommodation, provide extra bedding and generally be ‘a person who knows or can find someone who knows’.