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" A new survey of NHS staff has found that improvements are being made to reduce violence against staff, but there are widespread worries about handwashing.  Handwashing is seen as an essential defence against MRSA, but one in four members of staff say their trust is not doing enough to promote handwashing.  The statistics are contained in the annual Healthcare Commission survey of NHS staff.  Out of 209,000 respondents, 28 per cent said they had experienced either violence or abuse in the previous 12 months, compared with 31 per cent in 2004 and 32 per cent in 2003.  The commission welcomed the fall, but also highlighted the low levels of reportage, with only 67 per cent of those experiencing a physical attack saying they reported it.  Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said she welcomed the improvement.  &amp;quot;It is very encouraging to see an emerging downward trend in the numbers of staff reporting experiences of violence, harassment and bullying over the last three years. However, the figures indicate that more must still be done,&amp;quot; Ms Walker said.  &amp;quot;NHS trusts must continue to work hard in addressing this very concerning issue to ensure that this positive start becomes a sustained trend.&amp;quot;  Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said that the NHS was working to achieve better hygiene.  &amp;quot;There are a number of important steps that the NHS is taking to tackle healthcare acquired infections &#150; including strict rules and extra vigilance for hand hygiene of staff, patients and visitors; dedicated infection control teams; better paid and better trained cleaning staff,&amp;quot; Dr Morgan said.  &amp;quot;There is still more to do, but evidence suggests that the changes are having an impact.&amp;quot; But Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said that the survey showed the government is failing on infection control.  &amp;quot;Despite eight years of task forces, strategies and initiatives, the government has made little progress in the fight against serious infections,&amp;quot; Mr Webb said.  &amp;quot;A strict culture of cleanliness is vital for infection control, yet hygiene issues still persist.&amp;quot; \u00A9 Adfero Ltd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a13498/nhs-good-on-abuse-but-bad-on-handwashing-say-staff/>