Do not shave before your op.PATIENTS are being urged to avoid shaving areas of their body planned for surgery in order to reduce the risk of infection. It comes as part of the Welsh Assembly Welsh Assembly n → Parlement gallois Government's health drive to reduce 50,000 cases of 'harm' annually and save 1,000 Lives in its 1,000 Lives Campaign. Staff at North Wales North Wales (known in some archaic texts as Northgalis) is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales and to the east by England. NHS Trust National Health Service Trusts (NHS Trusts) provide many services of the National Health Service in England and Wales. They are not trusts in the legal sense but are in effect public sector corporations. say shaving a patient with a razor before surgery may increase the post-surgical infection rate. Recent studies show, however, that if hair is removed with surgical clippers in a theatre environment just before surgery, the risk of infection is significantly reduced. Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Wrexham Maelor Hospital have replaced razors with surgical clippers. Deputy Medical Director, Dr Brian Tehan said: "Shaving the body can disturb the surface of the skin and cause tiny cuts, which often can't even be seen, and this increases the risk of bacteria entering the body. That's why we have stopped using razors in hospital, but also need the public to understand that they should not shave before coming into hospital for an operation." Expectant mothers are also being encouraged not to shave. |
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