Infection Prevention and Control

We take cleanliness and infection prevention and control very seriously at our hospitals and we understand the impact this has on patient confidence.

The Director of Nursing and Infection Prevention and Control reports directly to the Chief Executive and has a dedicated Infection Prevention and Control Team providing specialist advice and support to staff, patients and visitors and we have a clear strategy for reducing infections year on year. In fact last year we reduced our rates of Clostridium difficile infections by 56%. To view our infection rates please visit the Health Protection Agency website.

We have unconditional registration with the Care Quality Commission in relation to infection prevention and control and hospital cleanliness. To find out more please visit the Care Quality Commission website.

MRSA

We are compliant with Department of Health guidance for MRSA in that all relevant planned admissions are tested for MRSA prior to admission and our unplanned emergency admissions are tested for MRSA within 48 hours.

Leaflets

MRSA - Information for patients and visitors leaflet

MRSA screening - positive results leaflet

MRSA screening - what to expect leaflet

Isolation

Certain infections may require patients to be nursed in a single room. The Trust has a dedicated ward which cares for patients with Clostridium difficile infection to ensure they are given the specialist nursing and medical care they need.

  Isolation - Information for patients and visitors leaflet

  Clostridium Difficile - Information for patients and visitors leaflet

Hand hygiene

The single most important tool we have to aid us in the prevention of spreading infection is to have staff decontaminate their hands before and after caring for you by washing their hands or using an alcohol based cleanser. If you are worried that we might have forgotten, it is OK to remind us! We welcome your help in keeping you safe.

As a Trust we expect high standards of hand hygiene from all our staff and monitor every clinical area on a weekly basis. You can see these results outside each ward and on the infection control notice board within each ward and department.

If you are concerned about hand hygiene please do not hesitate to speak to the ward/department leader or Matron for that area.

We are a member of the World Health Organisations: Clean hands save lives campaign and we are rated as a Hand Hygiene Leadership Hospital. This means that we are considered to be a reference centre and contribute to the promotion of hand hygiene through research, innovation and information sharing.

Helping us to prevent infections

For patients

If you are due to come into hospital please let staff know if:

• you have been in any hospital, including a hospital abroad, in the last 12 months
• you have previously been told that you have MRSA
• you have had C.difficile diarrhoea in the past
• you develop any diarrhoea and/or vomiting prior to admission.

When you are in hospital it is important to use good hygiene, which includes washing your hands after going to the toilet and before any meal. If you cannot do this yourself then please ask one of the nurses to help you.

For visitors

Please use the alcohol hand foam when entering and leaving the ward or use soap and water as directed by the nursing staff. All our dispensers have a picture on them showing you the most effective way to clean your hands.

Please do not visit if you are feeling at all unwell particularly if you have had diarrhoea or vomiting. Phone ahead to talk to one of the nurses if you are unsure.

If you want to bring children into the wards, please discuss this first with the nurse in charge and please do not bring them with you if they are unwell.

Further information

If you have any queries or concerns about infection prevention and control please contact the Infection Control Team via the switchboard on 0845 111 4000.