From the
Chief Nursing Officer
Paul Martin RN, RHV, DMS, MBA
______________________________
St. Andrew's House
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Telephone 0131-244-2314
Fax 0131-244-2042
Paul.Martin@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
______________________________
CNO(2005)3
______________________________
19 July 2005
______________________________
Addressees
For action
Chief Executives, NHS Boards
For information
Medical Directors
Directors of Nursing
Directors of Public Health
Consultants in Public Health medicine (CD&EH)
Chief Executive, NHS Education for Scotland
Chief Executive, Quality Improvement Scotland
______________________________
Further enquiries to:
On policy:
Mrs Susan Ferguson
Scottish Executive Health Department
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG
Susan.ferguson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0131-244 5669
Fax: 0131-244 2030
On professional issues:
Mrs Margaret Tannahill
Scottish Executive Health Department
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG
Margaret.tannahill@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0131-244 2490
Fax: 0131-244 2069
Dear Colleague
FUNDING FOR INFECTION CONTROL MANAGER POSTS - HDL(2005)8
1. This letter informs you that the Scottish Executive Health Department is providing funding for each NHS Board to support employment of an Infection Control Manager (ICM). It sets out the arrangements for, and the conditions of, funding.
2. HDL(2005)8 (attached, without its Annex, for ease of reference) was issued to Chief Executives on 18 March 2005. This provided guidance on organisational issues in relation to infection control. The Letter set out the essential roles and responsibilities of the ICM and flagged up the possibility of additional funding for this role.
3. To recap, the ICM will be a senior manager, designated as having overall responsibility for management processes and risk assessment relating to infection control, medical devices decontamination, medical devices management and cleaning services. The ICM (who may also be a Board member) will have direct access to the Chief Executive and the Board, and will be an integral member of the organisation's Infection Control, Clinical Governance and Risk Management Committees.
4. The Scottish Executive Health Department will provide £40,000 to each mainland Board and £20,000 to Island Boards for the next 3 financial years (2005/6 to 2007/8) to facilitate the employment of an ICM, and to allow advance financial planning by Boards to continue funding thereafter.
5. It is expected that the major responsibilities of this role will require a full-time, or close to full-time, manager (half time or thereby in Island Boards). It is not a clinical role, and should not be filled by existing staff taking on additional duties. Existing senior infection control managers identified under the terms of HDL(2001)10 may continue to fulfil the ICM role without prejudice to this new funding, as long as the above conditions are satisfied.
6. Pro rata funding for the ICM post for the remainder of 2005/06 will be paid to Boards within the August funding allocation. Boards should confirm that the post has been filled and submit a job description to Susan Ferguson (contact details above) by the end of 2005 as a condition of funding. Subject to an appointment being made, funding for the two subsequent financial years will be paid within the April funding allocation.
Yours sincerely
PAUL MARTIN
Chief Nursing Officer