PARAMEDICS across West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow have been urged to scrub up as one in five failed hand hygiene tests.

Compliance in the West Central region was at 83 per cent in March, the most recent month for which figures are available, and was the only region to fail the test.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said hand hygiene compliance rates fluctuate throughout the year but the trend was one of “overall improvement”.

West Scotland – which covers Glasgow, Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire – dragged down the national figures, said an SAS report.

Paramedics have strict regulations for hand washing and are expected to adhere to them by the SAS.

A spokeswoman said: “The hand hygiene compliance rate in the West Central division fluctuates slightly throughout the year, however the trend is one of overall improvement, with the most recent report showing hand hygiene compliance at its highest level this year so far.”