Infections Comment: Citizen
16/10/2007
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman:
"Following the planned ward closure programme between 2006 and
2007, a number of posts were reduced. The reductions were largely among
health care assistants who worked on two wards, both of which were closed
at this time.
"Staffing levels are constantly reviewed and, if there was concern
regarding workload affecting infection control procedure, staff would
either be deployed from other areas or new staff recruited if necessary.
"The cleanliness of our wards and infection control across the Trust
is a high priority. The reduction of staffing has had no impact on our
infection control procedures.
"In the last quarter (July to Sept '07) infection rates have gradually
been falling, however the Trust is not complacent. We have been implementing
a wide-ranging strategy and action plan to improve the control of infections."
These actions include:
- Deep cleaning: a programme of enhanced cleaning during which
wards are emptied on a rotational basis and thoroughly disinfected
- Reducing the unnecessary use of catheters and lines. Patients
who have a line or catheter inserted are often at higher risk of infection,
so it is important they are only used when absolutely necessary
- Reviewing the prescription of antibiotics. Those patients
who take antibiotics can often be more susceptible to Clostridium difficile
so the appropriate use of these is essential in reducing infection
rates
- Extending the MRSA screening programme and increasing isolation
facilities
- Detailed assessment of all MRSA blood infections on a case
by case basis to see if lessons can be learned for the future
- Training for medical champions to include a focus on the hand washing message.
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