As an acute service provider Infection Prevention and Control is of the highest priority at Ashford and St Peter's and has a zero tolerance approach to healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).
Effective infection prevention and control is an essential component of a quality health service. The Trust aims to meet the requirements of the infection control assurance framework by:
- reducing infection related morbidity and mortality
- reducing the cost of patient care by preventing healthcare associated infection
- providing a safe working environment for staff
Everyone's Responsibility
Infection prevention and control is the responsibility of all healthcare workers, in particular attention to hand hygiene, being the single most effective method of reducing HCAIs. The infection control assurance framework is linked to the annual infection control programme monitored by the Director of Infection Prevention and Control and agreed by the Trust Board in conjunction with the annual report in line with Department of Health Guidance. Assurance is also given to the Board by the regular updating of the Health Assure with evidence in regards to the Trust’s compliance with the Hygiene Code.
Infection Prevention and Control Service
Infection prevention and control is of major importance in hospitals as patients are more susceptible to infection due to underlying disease, medical and surgical procedures and immunosuppression.
The Infection Prevention and Control Team provides a co-ordinated approach to infection control across the Trust. The Infection Prevention and Control Team provide a 24 hour advice service. There are quarterly Infection Control newsletters available to all staff.
All wards at ASPH will have an Infection Prevention and Control Link Representative. Link representative meetings are held quarterly and a study day annually.
Training
Annual Infection Control training is mandatory for all clinical staff, this also includes hand hygiene training. This is undertaken either in the classroom or via e-learning Training Tracker or the Surewash mobile hand hygiene training and assessment unit. All staff have an introduction to infection control including hand hygiene on Day 1 of Trust induction.
Medical staff undertake the Infection Control Training Tracker package annually. This is then followed up with a practical hand hygiene session. Annual updates for the consultants are also via the Training Tracker package and practical hand hygiene session.
It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure that their staff have the required update and that this is recorded in the training records on the OLM system managed by the Education and Training department and this links into the Trust’s Training Needs Analysis document.
Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services
To view a list of the tests provided by BSPS, click on the link below:
