HEALTHY PEOPLE HEALTHY LIVES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
The prevention and control of healthcare associated infection (HCAI) is a high priority for the NHS, the local authority and all health providers in the independent and voluntary sectors. Many infectious diseases can spread within care establishments, where large numbers of people, many of whom may be susceptible to infection, share eating and living accommodation. Infection is a major cause of illness and can result in avoidable admissions to hospital.
Many organisations will already have systems in place to monitor infection prevention and control. Within the Health and Social Care Act 2008 there are nine criteria (see www.doh.gov.uk for details) that all community-based healthcare organisations should adhere to. They should compile an Infection Prevention and Control, paper-based, evidence file that should be stored at their premises and used for Care Quality Commission assessments. To assist with compiling this evidence, NHS Oldham has developed a toolkit, which is available below.
The list below is not exhaustive, but the information aims to assist managers to find sources of evidence-based research that will help them to demonstrate compliance with the Health and Social Care Act (2008).
For more information or advice contact the infection prevention and control team on 0161 622 6594 / 0161 622 6595 or email elaine.flynn@nhs.net or nichola.hughes@nhs.net
The links below will either take you to a document or a new web page, which will contain more information and links to several additional documents.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008
Information about Essential Steps - Essential Steps includes self-assessment tools which allow you to undertake an evaluation of your current practices against guidance set by the Department of Health, within Essential Steps guidance. You can select the tools which are applicable to your faculty.
NHS Oldham’s Infection Prevention and Control Service Mission Statement
Infection control in the built environment - this document is about the importance of architects, designers and builders working with healthcare and infection control staff to redcuce healthcare-associated infections.
Infection prevention and control annual reports
The annual reports are comprehensive documents that provides evidence that NHS Oldham meets its legislative obligations in regard to the Health and Social Care Act ( 2008)
NHS Oldham's Annual Infection Prevention and Control Report 2011
NHS Oldham’s Annual Infection Prevention and Control Report 2010
Antibiotic Resistance factsheet Avoiding infection on farm visits factsheet Chickenpox factsheet Clostridium Difficile Diarrhoea and vomiting Head lice factsheet Impetigo factsheet Infection and surgical wounds factsheet Influenza factsheet Legionnaires Disease factsheet Leptospirosis and Weil's Disease factsheet Listeria factsheet Meningococcal infection factsheet MRSA Mumps factsheet Norovirus factsheet Pseudomonads fact sheet Rubella factsheet Salmonella factsheet Scabies guidance Scarlet Fever factsheet Staphylococcus PVL factsheet Threadworm factsheet Toxoplasmosis factsheet Tuberculosis factsheet Typhoid factsheet Urinary catheter care Whooping Cough factsheet
www.nric.co.uk - National Resource for Infection Control website. www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk - Clean Safe Care website www.hpa-nw.org.uk - Health Protection Agency North West website www.dh.gov.uk - Department of Health website www.npsa.nhs.uk - National Patient Safety Agency website www.ips.uk.net - Infection Prevention Society Website http://care.corelearningunit.nhs.uk/SignIn.aspx - This is an e-learning package available for infection control. www.institute.nhs.uk/TacklingInfections - Information about tackling infections from the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement http://www.networks.nhs.uk/networks/news/prevention-and-control-of-healthcare-associated-infections - This offers advice on management or organisational actions to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections in secondary care settings.