If you are coming into Altnagelvin, please tell your family and friends not to visit you if they have a cold, flu, diarrhoea, vomiting, an unexplained rash or an infected cut. They could spread infection to other patients or staff. They need to be free of symptoms for 48 hours before visiting.

We may ask you some questions about more serious infections, such as CJD. This is routine and you should not worry. We will try not to take too long with these questions.

One of the best ways to stop infection spreading is through careful hand washing. Please remember to wash your hands after going to the toilet, before eating, and anytime your hands look dirty. The hand gels provided at all bedsides should be used on clean hands. Try not to touch any wounds or stitches. And don’t be afraid to ask hospital staff if they have cleaned their hands before examining you.

Your visitors also need to follow these rules so ask them to wash their hands or use the hand gels when they come to see you. If they are going to visit other patients, they should wash their hands in between. And visitors shouldn’t sit on your bed!

If you are worried about infection control on your ward, please talk to the nurse in charge right away, or to the Patients’ Advocate (see ‘Contact us’) so that we can put things right.