**C-Difficile Awareness**

On Saturday the 25th of November 2006 my Grandfather very sadly passed away in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

During his time in Frenchay he contracted C-Difficile. This bacteria has been on the news a lot recently. The only things that kill c-diff are bleach or chlorine based cleaners. However, the friction used in handwashing washes away the spores and is an effective way of removing them from your hands. Please be careful. Wash your hands thouroughly with soap and water if you go into hospital for any reason over coming months, even if its just as a visitor. Don't just use the squirty gel.

Whilst my Grandfather was in isolation because of his infection. A nurse came in to administer personal care, then, on hearing the phone ring at the desk, promptly pulled of her gloves and apron, without ever washing her hands once, balled them up in her hands and placed them on the desk whilst she answered the phone, meanwhile itching her eyes, picking up pens...... So, thats, desk, phone, pens, her own body. All of which come into contact with extremely vulnerable ill people.  

This bacteria can kill you. 

None of this can change anything that happened to my Grandfather Euart 'Tom' Edwards, but It's such a tiny thing, just washing your hands and if someone somewhere takes notice of it, then maybe other peoples loved ones wont have to suffer.

Please forward this information to anyone who you think may be interested. 

Thank you. Laura Tanner

For more information on C-Difficile please click on the following links:

http://www.cdiffsupport.com/aboutcdiff.html