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Infection Control

MRSA Ecoli MRSA

Hospital cleanliness and reducing healthcare associated infections are our highest priorities.

We are working very hard to ensure we reduce our rates of infections (such as Clostridium difficile and MRSA) and have introduced a dedicated Infection Control turnaround team consisting of Consultants, Microbiologists, Nurses and Managers to implement a number of measures to achieve this reduction.

We also have a established expert Infection Control department who advise staff at all levels how to prevent and reduce cross-infection in the hospital.

Our current programme includes:

  • Improving hygiene facilities including shower rooms, hand basins and toilets;
  • Creating more single rooms and increasing the space between patients where possible;
  • Creating changing areas for hospital staff to change into uniforms;
  • Creating rest rooms for staff away from the clinical area;
  • Updating the hospital’s uniform policy and promoting a strict dress code for non-uniformed staff;
  • Regular review of the hospital’s antibiotic policy (please see section on Clostridium difficile);
  • Updating the visitors’ charter to ensure relatives are aware of our infection control procedures;
  • Building hand wash basins at every ward entrance (for staff and visitors to wash their hands upon entering a ward area);
  • Increasing the available hours for our in-house “special cleans team” who are responsible for carrying out deep cleans on ward areas;

We have made excellent progress on reducing our rates of infection over the last few months; however, we will continue to do more.

Download the Trust's MRSA Screening Compliance Statement here (Updated December 2010)

Background

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust is committed to delivering clean, safe care to all patients.
The NHS Operating Framework for 2010/11 continues to place cleanliness and HCAIs as one of five national priorities that require particular and sustained attention. MRSA screening for all elective admissions continues as identified in previous frameworks and for all emergency admissions as soon as practicable or by 2011 at the latest.
The Department of Health (DoH) has requested assurance from trusts that MRSA screening is in place. All trusts that have elective admissions should have firm plans in place to ensure that relevant patients are screened and systems for assurance.
Scope of MRSA screening

All elective admissions to Bedford Hospital NHS Trust are screened for MRSA except for the following groups:

Day case ophthalmology
Day case dental
Day case Endoscopy
Minor dermatology procedures
Children unless they are already in a ‘high risk’ group
Maternity/obstetrics except for elective caesareans and ‘high risk’ patients

All emergency inpatient admissions to the hospital are screened for MRSA.

Timing of screening

MRSA screening takes place at pre-operative assessment for most elective admissions.
Elective admissions that do not attend a pre-operative assessment appointment or are not surgical admissions are screened within twenty-four hours of admission.
Emergency admissions are screened within twenty-four hours of admission.

Assurance

Longitudinal monitoring of compliance with the policy is undertaken by the hospital, matching screen to patient, reported to the Trust Board and commissioning body as part of the key performance indicators.