18 teams and counting, Cystic Fibrosis Team shares Gloves Off campaign success

Sarah Buckingham, Ward Manager in Medicine at Llandough, noticed that glove wearing had become an automatic response for almost every task, even those involving no contact with bodily fluids. When she spotted the Gloves Off campaign at CAV UHB, she was inspired to implement the project in her department and see the difference it could make. 

The Gloves Off campaign encourages staff to stop using non-sterile gloves for tasks where there is no risk of contact with blood or body fluids, focusing instead on high-standard hand hygiene. It was launched in May 2025 together with Critical Care and has since been adopted by over 18 other departments across the Health Board. 

Sarah and her team are a fantastic example of a group that independently adopted the campaign using the step-by-step guidance developed by Shaping Change and Critical Care. Sarah started with a clear, structured approach, following the guidance and engaging with staff through questionnaires and discussions with the multi-disciplinary team. With just under 50 responses, the team was able to gauge baseline attitudes and collectively commit to the change.

To ensure the transition was safe and practical, the unit prioritised infrastructure before changing clinical habits. Although the unit was relatively new and already had corridor sinks, Sarah and her deputy worked to ensure that hand gel was accessible at every point of care. They made sure gel dispensers were placed outside every room and checked that one was available inside every patient room as well. This removed the ‘convenience barrier’, ensuring that staff never had to choose between wearing gloves and searching for a way to clean their hands. 

The results of the projects were verified through a dedicated manual audit of procurement stubs after official data proved difficult to obtain. By comparing a four-month snapshot from July to October against the previous year, the 10-bed unit discovered they had used 130 fewer boxes of gloves. This reduction not only represented a significant saving in plastic waste and carbon emissions but also had a ripple effect on other PPE, such as a noticeable reduction in the use of plastic aprons, which are often worn with gloves out of habit rather than necessity. 

Beyond the data, the campaign had a profound impact on the patient experience. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis often spend significant portions of their lives in hospital, and Sarah observed that constant glove use can create a sense of isolation. Removing the gloves for non-essential tasks like turning off call bells or taking observations broke down a psychological barrier. For many patients, the feeling of a human hand rather than a latex barrier helped them feel more connected to their care team and less like they were being treated as a source of infection. 

For other wards looking to replicate this success, Sarah emphasised the importance of gently challenging colleagues. Sarah found that questioning staff in the moment, asking why gloves were being used for a specific task, was the most effective way to break ingrained habits. While some staff initially felt exposed without the familiar barrier of gloves, the unit proved that through education and improved access to hand hygiene, clinical staff could safely reclaim their autonomy and provide more personal, sustainable care. 

Using the newly launched data dashboard, we can now see that the Cystic Fibrosis Ward have reduced their glove use from £2.6k in 2024, with 86k gloves ordered to £1.8k in 2025, with 63k gloves ordered.  This means they have reduced their glove use by 26.7%, resulting in a 30.8% cost saving. 

Sarah said: 'I'm thrilled with the results of our Gloves Off campaign, the transition was quicker and smoother than expected.  I would like to thank my team for their full support and engaging so well.' 

Want to get involved? Colleagues looking to implement Gloves Off in their area can access the Implementation Guide and all other resources such as posters, questionnaire templates and more via the Gloves Off SharePoint Page.