Staff compliance with Bare Below the Elbow (BBE) has reduced across the Trust. This is a risk for patients and staff
What is Bare Below the Elbow (BBE)?
Bare Below the Elbow (BBE) is a term used to describe how staff should present themselves when in a clinical environment. This reduces the risk of infection and increases effective handwashing.
To be compliant with Bare Below the Elbow in line with the Uniform and Workwear Attire policy, staff should:
- Wear short sleeves
- Remove hand and wrist jewellery
- Ensure fingernails are short and natural - no false nails
- Ensure nails are free from nail varnish
- Cover cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings.
Who should be Bare Below the Elbow:
- All MCFT staff wearing a clinical uniform regardless of status, professional group or work location, inclusive of bank staff
- All agency staff working in the above listed clinical environments
- All staff conducting face to face interventions with service users
- All staff not in a uniform entering the above clinical environments
- Community colleagues delivering clinical care in people's places places of residence, and schools
- For visiting professionals attending the above clinical environments, the Nurse in Charge should apply common sense, considering the location and purpose of the visit.
We acknowledge personal and cultural diversity, for further details please refer to the Trust uniform policy and the IPC Policy.
Where should BBE be applied:
- All inpatient wards Trust wide
- Physical health centres
- Physical treatment clinics
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) suites
- Domiciliary settings, care homes, schools and any other settings where colleagues are delivering care.