The Scottish Ministerial
Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force
Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) continues
to be a high priority issue in 2005, important both in
terms of the safety and well-being of patients and of
the resources consumed by potentially avoidable
infections.
The HAI Task Force was established in 2003, in
response to the
Ministerial HAI Action
Plan "Preventing infections acquired while receiving
healthcare" (October 2002). With the Ministerial HAI
Action Plan, the Scottish Executive laid out its
commitment to tacking the issue through a
comprehensive, coherent, wide-ranging and
multi-disciplinary approach.
The
HAI Task Force led by the Chief Medical Officer , has the remit to co-ordinate the development and
implementation of the Action Plan, to monitor progress in
its implementation across NHSScotland, to monitor levels of
HAI and to report on progress to the Minister. In July
2004 the Chief Medical Officer issued
5 Top Tips to combat infection. The Chief Nursing officer is now
Vice Chair of the HAI Task Force, which is expected to
complete its work by December 2005.
HAI Task Force Work Programme
Progress has been substantial in the first two
years of working. Final guidance that has been issued
includes:
·
The NHSScotland Code of
Practice for the Local Management of HAI and
Hygiene ,
The first of its kind in the UK , the Code of Practice - outlines
specific guidance on a range of factors,
from staff education to compliance
management, management of basic ward
equipment, and guidance on the prevention
and control of infection.
·
The NHSScotland National
Cleaning Services Specification .
Info rmation on how hospitals and
other healthcare sites should be
cleaned, including how frequently, is
set out in the National Cleaning
Services Specification. In addition,
this document highlights the crucial
importance of staff training
·
A Framework for Mandatory Induction Training on
HAI
http://www.nes-hai.info/
The Framework emphasises the
importance of HAI and the key role
individual healthcare workers can make
to reducing its incidence as part of
'generic' induction programmes
·
The Risk Management of HAI: A Proposed Methodology
for NHSScotland (current consultation)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/health/rmahic-00.asp
A guide to be used by NHSScotland
for managing the risk of infection, to
increase patient and workplace safety.
The guide outlines ways to assess,
prioritise and target those
risks
·
A Best Practice Statement on Urinary Catheterisation
(linked to a new national surveillance programme on
catheter related urinary tract infection)
http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/Urinary_Cath_COMPLETE.pdf
Ensuring healthcare workers are utilising
best practice will minimise trauma, discomfort and
the potential for catheter-associated UTI in
patients.
·
Guidance for those involved in
Media Handling in
NHSScotland during incidents and outbreaks.
Designed
to enable effective working
relationships between NHS Boards and
the Scottish media
in relation to risk
management, this guidance forms an
essential part of the practical
management of outbreaks and
incidents
·
A Teaching Resource Pack for HAI Educators (by NHS
Education for Scotland ) including a stand-alone hand hygiene
resource
Includes a
teaching video which focuses on some
patient perceptions and is aimed at
triggering reflection and discussion;
information on how to access the stand
alone hand hygiene package and the
development of the HAI Specialist
Portal of the E Library
Major Projects Being Delivered in 2005
include:
·
Guidance on management of HAI outbreaks, including
staff screening
·
National standards for infection control in adult
care homes;
·
National guidance for prudent antimicrobial
prescribing
·
HAI Education: including the continuing development
of the Cleanliness Champions Programme which has now
been included in undergraduate nursing and medical courses
and adapted for
the Scottish Ambulance Service and Dental
Sevices.
·
Revised guidance on HAI, healthcare and the physical
environment
·
Development of HAI-related research framework through
the Chief Scientist's Office
·
Decontamination and sterilisation of instruments in
primary care
·
Formation of an HAI research network
·
Model policies and procedures for the prevention and
control of HAI that can be used throughout healthcare in
NHSScotland and beyond;
·
Further development of the national HAI surveillance
programme by Health Protection Scotland, including MRSA, surgical site infections, antibiotic
resistance, HAI in intensive care and paediatric units, and
HAI outbreaks. Surveillance of surgical site infections has
been implemented in all acute Operating Divisions in Scotland . http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/infhospital.html
Public Involvement and Communications
Public involvement and effective communications
are at the heart of the working philosophy for the HAI
Task Force. Members of the public are represented on
the HAI Task Force and on each of its working groups,
and the HAI Task Force public involvement and
communications team is. developing optimal ways of raising awareness
about HAI and how to combat the associated risks
through the communication of clear and consistent
messages.
HAI Standards
The second review of compliance with national
standards for control of HAI was undertaken by NHS QIS in
2004. The final report is expected in mid-2005.
In progressing the Action Plan, the HAI Task Force
takes a simple and pragmatic approach by building on, and
harmonising with, existing systems as much as possible; by
sharing examples of best practice and by co-ordination of
HAI initiatives. All HAI Task Force outputs complement and
build, where possible, on existing good practice or
guidance, avoiding 'advice overload' and 'reinventing the
wheel'. The issue of sharing information and learning from
others and co-ordination of HAI activities extends across
the other countries in the United Kingdom ,
The HAI Task Force will continue to deliver on key
priorities in year three. Its key message that
"Infection control is everyone's responsibility" is based
on the philosophy of "Clean hands, clean healthcare
environments and clean equipment", underpinned by clear
systems and structures to monitor performance. If we are to
achieve a safe, managed environment of care, then nothing
less than this broad and coherent approach will
suffice.
HAI Task Force Secretariat
January 2005
The Scottish Ministerial Healthcare Associated
Infection Task Force