Infection prevention and control

‘’Working together for a safer healthcare environment’’

The role of the Infection Prevention and Control Team is to provide specialist advice on effective prevention and control measures for a safer healthcare environment for both staff and contracted services.

To ensure a seamless service, close working relationships are maintained with other services within the NHS Leeds Healthcare economy; the Infection Prevention and Control Team works in partnership with Leeds Community Health Care NHS Trust (LCH), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), Leeds & York Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust (LYFT), and other services commissioned by NHS Leeds such as GPs, dental practices and some care homes. The team implements evidence based practice, policies and guidance sharing expertise to reduce healthcare associated infection (HCAI).

‘Effective prevention and control of healthcare associated infection has to be embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently by everyone’ DoH (2008)

It is our priority to ensure that there is a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to HCAI’s including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (CDIFF).

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) publishes up to date figures on cases of MRSA and CDIFF in all NHS Trusts; click here to view the latest report.

C.diff card initiative

Improving the care of people who have Clostridium difficile (C.diff) is a high priority for NHS Leeds. It is important that people with C.diff know how to look after themselves and when to seek help from their GP.

Infection Prevention & Control launched a new initiative on 1^st October 2011 to give people with C.diff more information about their condition. An information leaflet is given when diagnosed, with a wallet sized card to carry for a short period if they choose. This can be used to alert Doctors, Nurses and other healthcare workers that particular care may be needed when prescribing certain types of treatment.

Posters have been distributed to GP surgeries, Health Centres, Care Homes and Hospital Outpatients, to prompt patients to use their card.

If you would like further information about the C.diff initiative, please contact Michelle Higgins, Infection Prevention & Control Nurse Specialist by email Michelle.Higgins@NHSLeeds.nhs.uk or telephone 0113 8435024. (see link in related downloads below)

Resources

Resources for GPs, Care Homes and information leaflets are available and can be downloaded from the Leeds Community Health Care Infection control page.

A number of infection fact sheets are also available from www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/LocalServices/NorthWest/factsheets/

Clean your Hands Campaign

This was National Patient Safety Agency project. The programme aims to help the NHS in England and Wales achieve consistent, evidence based practice in hand hygiene. The objectives are to ensure staff in the NHS perform hand hygiene correctly at the right time in the right place and so contribute to preventing healthcare associated infections.

Useful Contacts

NHS Direct 

For 24 hour health advice and information call 0845 46 47 or visit  www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) 

For general information, help and advice on local health services call 0800 0525270 Free or email: pals@nhsleeds.nhs.uk

Health Protection Agency 

If you need any information on health protection or are concerned by a health related problem in your area call 0113 3860300 or visit www.hpa.org.uk