Publish date: 23 June 2025
If you have a clinical role at Mersey Care, including agency and bank, you must follow the Bare Below the Elbow (BBE) guidance – details can be found on YourSpace. Bare Below the Elbow requires clinical staff to wear short sleeves, no hand or wrist jewellery, no false nails or varnish, and asks that cuts/abrasions are covered with waterproof dressings.
Bare Below the Elbow supports effective hand hygiene and reduces the risk of cross infection.
The Trust has strict policies in place to support effective infection and control measures, and staff compliance with BBE is currently inconsistent – putting patients, service users and staff at risk.
Jenny Hurst, Chief Nurse, is urging clinical colleagues to follow the guidance:
“It’s really important that all staff wearing a clinical uniform, regardless of their role, are Bare Below the Elbow and follow the Trust’s uniform policy.
Effective handwashing remains one of the most important practices for infection prevention and control. To keep our patients and service users safe from harm, our clinical staff must role model excellent hand hygiene and present themselves professionally at all times.”
Please follow the guidance, more information can be found here: Bare below the elbow (BBE) :: YourSpace Mersey Care
See also, SD59_Uniform_Workwear_and_Attire_-_V1.2_Up_14Jun24-Rev_Jun27.pdf
