Hand wash call to hospital clergy

Hand washing will be required during hospital visits

Ministers and priests in the Western Isles have been told to stop laying unwashed hands on hospital patients - for fear of spreading superbug MRSA.

The area's health board has drawn up a new code of conduct for religious representatives making hospital visits.

They will be expected to observe measures to control hospital-acquired infections - including hand washing.

The code will also ensure that patients do not receive a religious visit unless they ask for one.

It is now specified that visits by religious and faith representatives is at the discretion of the nursing staff Health board spokesman

Concerns over the spread of superbugs like MRSA have prompted the request for members of the clergy to disinfect their hands properly before carrying out ceremonies such as blessings.

A spokesman for Western Isles NHS Board said most religious representatives already went out of their way to get consent from other patients before beginning acts of worship.

However, concerns had been raised that in some cases patients may have been unable to give consent or said nothing because they felt pressured to comply with the request.

They will now be asked to make their wishes known at the time of admission.

The spokesman said: "It became apparent to hospital management that changes were necessary.

We believe that it is a very good thing to have a code so people know precisely what is acceptable and what is not Reverend Chris Levison

"It is now specified that visits by religious and faith representatives are at the discretion of the nursing staff.

"They are best placed to take into account the patients conditions and be able to help with finding them and arranging private access if asked for."

The Reverend Chris Levison, Scotland's national healthcare chaplaincy training and development officer, said: "A code for faith leaders is a protection for everyone concerned and worship in the wards is no longer appropriate unless everyone there actually wants it.

"Faith leaders and chaplains have to be more sensitive nowadays.

"We believe that it is a very good thing to have a code so people know precisely what is acceptable and what is not."