Infection Prevention & Control

We are a small group of professionals who work as part of the multi-disciplinary team providing specialist advice, guidance, support and education regarding infection control within the Trust.

The service we provide is available for all patients admitted to the hospital or patients who will be coming into hospital, who may need our advice or help.

We in the Infection Prevention Team monitor and advise on infections that a patient is admitted with or goes on to develop. Common conditions we deal with include: MRSA results, C-Diff cases, flu, chicken pox etc.

Although we do not directly treat or prescribe treatments, we offer support and advice for both patients and staff on what the infections are, how they will be treated, how this may affect you as a patient, what additional care measures we may need to put in place to keep you and other patients safe.

Firstly we want to assure you all information regarding any test results or infectious status is treated with the upmost confidentiality and respect. While we offer our services to you if required, you are under no obligation to see or to speak to us if you do not wish.

We do when needed work closely with other staff members in the Trust who are also giving you care.

We have close links with the community Infection Prevention Team that cover our local area to ensure your care continues and you receive the support you need when you are discharged home if you need it.

What services are provided?

The Infection Prevention and Control Team is involved with several departments within the Trust, on a practical and advisory level

• Providing education and support for clinical/Trust staff to ensure safe, confident, quality care which includes the use of Standard Precautions.
• Follow a caseload of patients with alert organisms (new and old).
• Undertake audits and assessments of both environments and clinical practices to ensure high quality practice at Ward level, when giving direct care.
• Are advocates of high quality nursing care using standard precautions.
• Developing Trust policy using current, evidence based practice to lead change and support Nursing staff.
• Provide education to all staff on a yearly basis to develop and affirm expected infection control practice.
• Provide updates to staff as required,
• Deal with results for inpatients that have had a diagnosed infection.
• Ensuring safe, clean working environments.
• Manage potential risks from building works.
• Organising additional cleaning and decontamination of clinical areas/equipment as needed.
• Complete an investigation of patients with alert organisms including root cause analysis for MRSA bacteraemia and Clostridium Difficile cases.
• Co-ordinate the movement of patients with infections around the Trust.
• Run a ‘link nurse’ course giving interested clinical staff the opportunity to develop their knowledge and increase ward awareness of infection control issues.
• Close wards/bays if necessary, including preventing the moving of affected patients around the Trust.
• Undertake an on call service 24/7, 365 days a year to provide out of hours support to trust staff and ensure patient safety.
• Liaise with community based colleagues undertaking joined up working for patients who live within the local area to ensure a continuity of care for our service users here at JPUH.

How can I get a referral?

Our Team will usually introduce ourselves to you if you have an infection diagnosed or have had an infection in the past, as we keep a close eye on inpatients here at the hospital.  If you need or would like to speak to a member of our team whilst you are an inpatient or you have a friend or relative who is an inpatient, you can request to speak to us via the staff on the ward who can contact us directly.