Infection prevention and control

Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) can develop either as a direct result of healthcare interventions such as medical or surgical treatment, or from being in contact with a healthcare setting. The term HCAIs covers a wide range of infections, the most well-known being Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile (C. diff).

Healthcare associated infections can be a serious risk to patients, colleagues and visitors. As a result, infection prevention and control (IPC) is a key priority for the NHS. We take the prevention and control of HCAIs seriously and our vision is that no person is harmed by a preventable infection.

We deliver a wide range of services in many different settings including wards, community health centres and in the home. Infection prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility, and it is essential that we continually promote IPC practices as an integral part of our everyday work.

We work hard to reduce the risk of, monitor and control the spread of infections by:

• ensuring all our colleagues follow and adhere to appropriate IPC standards
• ensuring our wards, clinics and departments are cleaned thoroughly and checked against national cleaning standards
• monitoring infection rates and acting quickly when infections are identified to reduce the risk of spread to others
• ensuring antimicrobials are prescribed appropriately as overuse can cause resistance and make infections difficult to treat in the future

All trusts are required to have a director for infection prevention and control (DIPC) and this position is held in our trust by the deputy director of nursing. We also have a team of clinical nurse specialists that work together to provide leadership, advice, and support to our colleagues to ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance (opens in new window).

Our infection prevention and control clinical nurse specialists can be contacted on:

• Phone: 03000 214872
• Email: rdash.ipcteam@nhs.net

What you can do to help

• Wash your hands regularly, as it is possible to pick up germs on your hands which may cause infections. Handwashing is particularly important before eating and after using the toilet.
• Ask our colleagues to clean their hands if you have not observed them doing this before they touch you.
• Let our colleagues know if you have diarrhoea or vomiting or cold and flu like symptoms or a rash. If your hands are visibly dirty or if you have been suffering from diarrhoea and, or vomiting then using soap and water is recommended.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing, coughing, wiping and blowing your nose. Dispose of used tissues and face masks promptly into a waste bin and wash your hands. If you don’t have a disposable tissue, use your elbow to cover your nose and mouth if you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid walking about in bare feet, wear shoes or slippers to protect your skin.
• You may be asked to spend a period of time in your bed area if you have an infection to prevent further spread to others, this is called isolation.
• You may be asked to spend time in specific areas of the ward environment with others that may also have the same infection as you, to prevent further spread, this is called cohorting.
• We will only ask you to isolate or cohort whilst you are potentially infectious and will review isolation periods regularly so that you can re-visit communal spaces as early as possible.
• Ensure you are up-to-date with seasonal vaccinations, if you are eligible to have them, such as influenza, COVID-19 and shingles.
• Limit the amount of your personal belongings that you have with you. Storage space in your bed area is limited so to help our support service colleagues clean your room please avoid clutter.
• Report any problems, such as litter or spillages to our colleagues. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the standard of cleanliness please inform the person in charge or complete a Care Opinion form.

What visitors can do to help

• Do not visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell or have cold and flu like symptoms or a rash. If in doubt, call the ward before you visit for advice.
• Do not visit the hospital if you have diarrhoea or vomiting, you should wait 48 hours after symptoms have gone before you visit. If in doubt, call the ward for advice before you visit.
• Use the hand gel which is available at entrances to our wards and departments.
• Ask our colleagues to clean their hands if you don’t think they have already done so.
• Avoid bringing lots of patient property to hospital to allow our support service colleagues to be able to clean bed spaces properly.
• Avoid bringing perishable foods where possible. These will need to be stored in a refrigerator and must be consumed by the use by date.

Page last reviewed: December 16, 2024
Next review due: December 16, 2025