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The Risk Management of HAI: A proposed Methodology for NHSScotland Consultation Document

Dear Colleague

MINISTERIAL TASK FORCE ON HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTION

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT - ‘THE RISK MANAGEMENT OF HAI: A PROPOSED METHODOLOGY FOR NHSSCOTLAND’

Prevention and control of HAI is a high-profile priority issue for NHSScotland. The Scottish HAI Task Force, which I Chair, is progressing a major three year programme of work laid out in the SEHD Ministerial Action Plan on HAI, "Preventing infections acquired while receiving healthcare" (October 2002). One of the actions outlined in the Plan is the development of a risk-based methodology to assist in setting priorities for targeting measures to reduce the risk of HAI and to facilitate action in ensuring compliance with standards.

Over the last three years considerable progress has been made across NHSScotland organisations to establish co-ordinated risk management structures and processes as recommended by the Carey Group Report, "Managing the Risk of Healthcare Associated Infection in NHSScotland" (HDL(2001)53).

To be successful in controlling and reducing the potential impact of HAIs requires effective organisational establishment of proactive HAI risk assessment and adverse incident management, based on reporting and learning systems that collect and analyse information on adverse events and near misses. The proposed risk-based methodology (see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/), developed by an HAI Task Force multidisciplinary working group, aims to assist NHSScotland organisations in the achieving this. It is based jointly on the well-established Australia/New Zealand risk management model and on examples of good practice in HAI risk management from NHSScotland.

Following consultation, the multidisciplinary working group will take account of all views expressed and will move forward to finalise an agreed risk-based methodology. In the interim period, the methodology will be piloted within NHSScotland (in NHS Highland and NHS Fife) under the direction of the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. The pilot will field-test the methodology for applicability and ease of use in NHSScotland. Although designed for and aimed at NHSScotland, the methodology could also be used in non-NHS settings where risk management of HAI is an issue.

The purpose of consulting widely is to seek views on a piece of work which is important for individual organisations and for NHSScotland as a whole. As such, you are invited to comment on:

• The scope and content of this consultation document;
• The format and clarity of the document;
• The ease of use of the methodology;
• Whether there are any gaps in the document

Comments should be sent by 28 February 2005 to:

Christopher Bergin
HAI Task Force Project Supervisor
2E(N)
St Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Or by e-mail to: Christopher.bergin@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Please note that all responses to this consultation may be made public, unless a respondent requests that their views be kept confidential.

Yours sincerely

DR E M ARMSTRONG

To:

Chief Executives of NHS Boards and Operating Divisions
Chief Executive of Property and Environment Forum Executive
Chief Executive of the State Hospital
Chief Executive of Scottish Ambulance Service
Directors of Public Health
Senior Managers for Infection Control (HDL(2001)10))
Medical and Nursing Directors of NHS Boards and Operating Divisions
Risk Managers
Chairs of clinical governance committees
Consultants in Public Health Medicine (Communicable Disease and Environmental Health)
Consultants in Infectious Disease
Consultants in Occupational Health
Infection Control Nurses
Infection Control Doctors

HAI Task Force Members
HAI Task Force Working Group 12 Members
Public Interest Representatives from all HAI Task Force Working Groups

The Care Commission
Infection Control Nurses’ Association (Scotland)
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS)
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH)
SCIEH Steering Group members
NHS Highland
NHS Fife

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