Winners impress with hand hygiene competition for QA Hospital

Jessica Mansbridge, nine, a Portsmouth High School pupil, came in third for the Clean Your Hands competition.

Earlier this year The News and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Cosham site, called on people to design a new poster encouraging people to wash their hands.

It comes as studies show only five per cent of people wash their hands properly after going to the toilet and 10 per cent do not wash them at all.

In England, healthcare-associated infections affect 300,000 people every year. The easiest way to combat them is to clean hands with soap and hot water.

Paul Currie with his winning entry to the Clean Your Hands competition

To get the important yet simple message across, people were asked to create a poster which will be used through QA Hospital.

The winner was Paul Currie, whose bright red design caught the eyes of the judges.

The 50-year-old, from Portchester, said: ‘I was really surprised that I won. I have done design projects in the past and I did A-level art and photography.

‘But I never expected to win, I am pleased.

‘I was listening to Green Day’s American Idiot album and the red, black and white colours really stood out so I thought they would be a good combination for the poster.’

As winner, Paul has received a £100 Amazon voucher.

He added: ‘I will probably use the voucher to buy a new Photoshop as mine is about 20 years old.’

Lots of posters were entered as part of the competition, all with the message of Clean Your Hands.

Designs ranged from taps, hands, germs and soap with a range of colours. While some were hand-drawn, others were created using computer software.

Runner-up Jessica Le Santo, 12, made her design with pencils. She won a £50 Amazon voucher.

The Purbrook Park pupil said: ‘I looked online for different pictures of hands and I wanted something that would.

‘I wanted it to be simple so I came up with the one hand and the message.

‘I never thought I would be a prizewinner, so it feels good to come second.’

Her mum Angela added: ‘I am very proud of her. She saw about the competition and decided to enter, coming up with the idea herself.’

Nine-year-old Jessica Mansbridge, from Portsmouth High School, took the final prize of a £30 Amazon voucher.

She said: ‘I liked the idea of the germs running from the water and using bright colours to get people’s attention.

‘I am really amazed that I came third.’