Infection Control Team The aim of the Infection Control Team is to minimise the risk of infection to patients and staff and to ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities to prevent and control infection. The Team comprises of an Infection Control Doctor, Lead Infection Control Nurse, three Infection Control Nurses and Link Infection Control staff in clinical areas. Mrs Shirley Bough is the Trust's Non-Executive Lead for Infection Control. The Team has responsibility for surveillance, prevention and control of infection in the Trust's 11 hospitals. They also offer advice on surveillance and control of hospital-acquired infection presenting in the community, and on the prevention and control of community-acquired infections that are likely to have an impact on hospital infection control. During major outbreaks of infection affecting hospitals and the community, the Infection Control Team will assist the Consultant in Public Health Medicine (Communicable Disease Control) who has overall responsibility for investigation and control of the outbreak. Hospital Infection Control Committee Chaired by the Executive Medical Director and involving public and staff representatives, the role of the Hospital Infection Control Committee is to advise the Chief Executive on the infection control policy, regularly review and update policy, procedures and guidelines and determine the annual programmes for infection control audits. The Committee meets every three months. Preventing Infection in Hospital - A Visitor's Guide - Think about keeping patients safe before you visit someone in hospital. If you or someone you live with has a cold or diarrhoea, or if you feel unwell, try to stay away until you are better.
- Please adhere to the Trust Visiting Times to allow all patients time to receive care, rest and recover.
- Consider the impact on other patients who may be very unwell and keep noise to a minimum.
Consider the impact on other patients who may be very unwell and keep noise to a minimum. - Wash and dry your hands before visiting a hospital ward, particularly after going to the toilet. Use the alcohol gel provided at the ward door or at the bedside.
- Ask ward staff for advice before you bring in food or drink for someone you are visiting in hospital.
- When visiting someone in hospital, don't sit on their bed and keep the number of visitors to a maximum of two any one time. Never touch dressings, drips or other equipment around the bed.
- If you think NHS premises are not as clean as they should be, let the Sister/Charge Nurse know at the time. If you think a healthcare worker has forgotten to wash their hands, remind them about this.
The Trust has produced information sheets, leaflets and the Infection Control Newsletter which you can download and print.
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In April 2005, the Trust enrolled in the National Patient Safety Agency's "Clean your Hands Campaign" in an effort to encourage more staff, patients and visitors to use the alcohol gel before and after visiting a clinical area. | |