Information for Service Users and Visitors

Infection prevention and control is a serious issue. Our aim is to protect everyone from infectious disease including service users, carers, families and staff.

The Trust’s infection prevention and control team is a small group of specialist staff working to ensure that:

  • The prevention and control of infection is an essential part of the management of all patients
  • All staff are responsible for infection prevention in their area of work, including hand hygiene
  • The environment and equipment are cleaned appropriately, led by our hard working and dedicated domestic staff
  • Patients presenting with infections or who acquire an infection during treatment are identified promptly and managed correctly to reduce the risk of transmission

The team provides practical, clinical advice and guidance to staff and service users

  • Education – providing a source of expertise to clinical and non-clinical staff, visitors and patients on all aspects of infection.
  • Audit - we monitor aspects of care, for example: nursing practice, quality of cleaning and handwashing.
  • Surveillance – monitoring trends and increases of MRSA, Clostridium Difficile, Bacteraemias and other Health Care Associated Infections.
  • Advice - to nurses, doctors and GPs by phone, pager and email. We also give advice to the public.
  • Outbreaks – investigating causes of outbreaks and day to day advice on prevention and suppression.
  • New initiatives - when products related to reducing infections are developed which may be of benefit to our patients, we trial them. If the trials are favourable then we work with the clinical teams to integrate them into our care provision.
  • Policies – writing policies and procedures surrounding infection prevention and control with cooperation from clinical teams.
     

The Trust has regular infection and prevention meetings reporting regularly to the Trust Board.

Service users / patients: what you can do to help?

  • Keeping your hands and body clean are especially important when you are in hospital. Where possible have a supply of your own toiletries, kept in a wash bag
  • Always wash your hands immediately before you eat a meal
  • Always wash your hands after using the toilet
  • If you are concerned that any area does not look clean, report this immediately to the nurse in charge of the ward
  • Always wear something on your feet when walking around in hospital. A comfortable pair of slippers is fine but make sure they have some grip on the soles.
  • If a member of staff needs to examine you or perform a procedure, ask if they have washed their hands or used an alcohol rub or gel
  • Please ask the nurse in charge before you bring in any food or drink for a relative

Infection Control Information for Visitors

  • If you have suffered diarrhoea or vomiting, or have had a cough, cold or flu, please stay away from the hospital until you have been free of symptoms for 48 hours. If in doubt call the ward for advice
  • Please cover up any open wounds or cuts
  • Use soap and water to wash your hands and alcohol rub before and after visiting. Hand gel is only effective on clean hands
  • We don't mind being asked if we have cleaned our hands properly.
  • Help keep the hospital clean by not bringing in lots of belongings that can clutter the area around beds. Please take away things that are not required.
  • Report any problems, such as litter or spillages to ward staff. Our ward managers and matrons are responsible for making sure wards are clean and hygienic. If you want to talk to the Matron responsible for the area you are being treated in or visiting, ask a member of staff.

Ask us for advice

If you have any concerns, please contact the infection prevention and control team on: 01889 571 837. We will do our best to find the answers for you.

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