Infection control

This section is provided for health professionals (GPs, dentists, pharmacists etc).

Members of the general public are welcome to use these pages but should be aware that they are not written with them in mind. Please choose an option on the left for information aimed at the general public.

Infection control champions
Guidelines and policies
Key documents
MRSA screening
Training
Contacts

Infection control champions

This page explains the role of an infection control champion in the community and primary care.

The PCT is fully committed to the prevention of infection to the population, both under hospital care and for those cared for in the community.

This is a goal shared with other city partnerships including: the local NHS hospitals; GPs; the ambulance service; community nursing; out-of-hours services; independent healthcare providers; and the Council.

To that end, the PCT wish to contract with healthcare providers that have an identified and accountable infection control champion (ICC). This champion leads others in their organisation ensuring safe patient care and public confidence in services. This enhances the role of nursing and managers in developing and monitoring clinical standards.

What is the role of the infection control champion?

To establish and maintain infection control standards in the organisation and ensure national requirements are met.
To be the expert and accountable person for infection control within the organisation
To train and develop the staff working within the organisation in infection prevention and control
To act as the infection control named contact for patients, GPs and other health and social care providers.

Training for infection control champions

An intense two day infection control training course provided by local experts and developed local links. They must attend annual infection control updating.

Tasks to be completed by the infection control champion

An audit of potential infection control risks in their organisation each year
Establish and monitor a robust domestic and clinical cleaning regime in their workplace
Ensure all staff are trained in infection control, including annual hand hygiene training
Have their name and contact details available on the PCT website as the named contact for patients, GPs and other healthcare providers

Guidelines and policies

Practical control of outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting in nursing homes (67kb Word file)
This document gives practical advice on managing outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting within care homes to reduce the risk of the spread of infection
Norovirus in the community (233kb Word file)
The identification and management of outbreaks of norovirus infection in care homes and hotels.

Guidance for the control of clostridium difficile in care homes (65kb Word file)
Essential steps to safe, clean care - Managing MRSA in a non-acute setting: a summary of best practice (253kb PDF file)
A good practice guide to CDifficile (282kb PDF file)
Pandemic Flu guidance for infection control in hospitals and primary care settings (614kb Word file)
Pandemic Flu - A summary of guidance for infection control in healthcare settings (211kb PDF file)

Key documents

This is core reading for all infection control champions. This evidence will be updated as new evidence emergences.

Essential reading for ICs (36kb Word file)

MRSA screening

To help achieve further reductions in the number of MRSA infections, MRSA screening has been introduced for all elective surgical admissions and some other at risk groups. Each of our providers has a specific MRSA screening policy that fulfils the criteria for the protection of patients (Department of Health, 2009). Each policy has been ratified at Board level.

For more information see the web sites of those contractors we commission for surgical elective services, specifically:

Training

Training workshop for cleaning of the clinical environment (251kb Word file)
Infection control update workshop (250kb Word file)

Contacts

PCT IC contact:

Marilyn Eveleigh
Head of clinical performance and lead nurse
T: 01273 545378.
E: marilyn.eveleigh@bhcpct.nhs.uk

GP IC contacts (122kb Word file)
This is a list of trained infection control champions employed in general practice within the city. Some practices may not have a champion listed as they may be in training.
Nursing home IC contacts (80kb Word file)
This is a lost of trained infection control champions in nursing home within the city. Some nursing homes may not have a champion listed as they may be in training.