15-point plan to tackle healthcare associated infections
01 December 2009
Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, is urging NHS Highland to do all they can to prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections
It comes as three patients die of C-difficile at Inverness’ Raigmore
Hospital.
Mrs Grant said: "Although they are not related, any deaths in which C-Diff is a
factor are incredibly worrying, especially at a time when we are hearing of more
and more cases across the country.
"NHS Highland must now ensure that they do all they can to prevent the spread of superbugs. Infection control measures must be stepped up.
Mrs Grant added:
"The public can do their part by washing their hands with soap and water, not just relying on alcohol gel.
"My Labour colleagues and I have already proposed a 15-point plan to tackle healthcare associated infections, and I have written to NHS Highland to establish if they’ve incorporated any of these points.
"One outbreak of C-difficie is one too many.
"It is vital that we learn how these outbreaks happen and prevent them happening again."
Labour’s 15 point plan on Healthcare Associated Infections
A robust monitoring system for the implementation of guidance at a board and hospital level is required. This should be subject to rigorous checks by inspection teams, independent of government, undertaking unannounced visits and not relying on a system of self-assessment.
An HAI Commissioner – to develop best practice and to co-ordinate and bring a sharper focus to the institutional clutter of those agencies responsible for tackling HAIs.
Crash programme to provide isolation facilities for all C Diff/MRSA patients. This is the provision of en-suite single rooms in sufficient number to end sharing. The Scottish Government need to outline the timescale and resources for this to be achieved across the NHS.
Crash programme to provide quality hand-washing facilities (specifically temperature – controlled, sensor – operated, flow regulated taps) appropriately positioned in all wards.
Real time detailed analyses at ward level, (with high resolution fingerprinting of the causative microbes) is essential in tracking the spread of infection and for outbreak identification and control.
Monthly reporting, on a hospital by hospital basis, must be published and available centrally online for every hospital. Quarterly reporting by HPS of Scotland wide statistics would continue.
Budget to ensure that staffing numbers in key posts - control of infection nurse, scientist/microbiologist and cleaning staff posts meet national guidelines. Antimicrobial pharmacists should be deployed in every hospital and a central contingency fund should be established to ensure cover for any staff shortages.
Urgent need for workforce planning. It is understood that there are currently no medically qualified academic bacteriologists to train future specialists or conduct research.
Target to reduce the rate of clostridium difficile by 50% by March 2011.
Funding for the provision of surplus capacity of storage and washing facilities for soiled bedding and clothes at all hospitals in the event of an outbreak of C.diff.
Introduce sterile hygiene system for staff uniforms.
Facilities for steam cleaning of beds, curtains etc to be available in every hospital.
Budget for future increases in the levels of MRSA screening activity and the need for rapid turn-round times for tests with benefits both to the patients and to rapid infection control.
Funding for the Reference Laboratory should be increased to permit all isolates to be fingerprinted, and to develop typing systems which will identify new and potentially more virulent strains of C.diff.
A properly resourced reference laboratory should be established for Norovirus gastroenteritis, given its link to CDAD, in line with the MRSA and C.Difficile reference laboratories
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