Health Minister launches online infection control manual

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has launched an online manual for healthcare staff to help them prevent and control infections.

The Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual is available on the internet with full public access. It is part of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s Changing the Culture action plan.

Speaking at the start of Infection Control Week, the Minister said: “I am committed to combating healthcare associated infections. That is why we are taking a zero tolerance approach and the Trusts must do all they can to minimise the risk to patients.

“This manual will be a valuable resource for protecting patients. Its purpose is to make sure that, across Northern Ireland, best practice becomes standard practice.

“The manual complements other measures that I have already taken this year, including a £9million investment for new initiatives like single rooms for new hospitals, a programme of unannounced hygiene inspections of all hospitals, restrictions on hospital visiting, a regional hand hygiene campaign, MRSA screening for high risk patients, and funding for a pharmacist in each trust area to work with clinical staff to promote safer prescribing of antibiotics.”

The Minister also today launched an information card for healthcare staff as part of the ‘cleanyourhands’ campaign.

The card draws attention to the importance of hand hygiene in the fight against infections, and gives advice on when hand rubs are appropriate and when they are not.

The Minister added: “A great deal has been achieved already through hard work by staff in the Trusts, but there’s always more that can be done to improve patient safety and earn public confidence.

“It’s important to remember that preventing infections is not just the responsibility of healthcare staff. Members of the public can make a big difference by taking simple measures such as hand-washing or not visiting hospital if they have a cold or viral infection.

“The online manual and the hand hygiene card are practical steps that will help the health service in Northern Ireland to bear down on infections.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Infection Control Week runs from October 20-26.
2. The Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual for NI is an internet-based resource and may be downloaded to provide a hard copy to those who do not have internet access. It is available at: http://www.infectioncontrolmanual.co.ni/Default.html
3. The Manual was developed by locum Consultant Microbiologist Dr Ciaran O’Gorman in conjunction with Infection Control Services, a UK-based company. A working group with representatives of all five Trusts, the Health PA and the DHSSPSNI, have reviewed the content to ensure that it is relevant to health care infection prevention and control practice in Northern Ireland.
4. As part of the ongoing hand hygiene campaign the Department has once again linked into the national campaign developed by the National Patient Safety Agency and have designed a small information card for all healthcare staff. This card once again draws attention to the importance of hand hygiene and infection prevention and control. It advises staff to always practice good hand hygiene.
5. Healthcare associated infections are in many cases the by-product of extensive use of antibiotics and the positive achievement of greater life expectancy in the population. Some patients enter hospital already colonised or infected.
6. The five main moments for hospital hygiene for staff are before patient contact, before an aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact and after contact with patient surroundings.
7. The Changing the Culture action plan on the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections was published in March 2006.
8. On 10 October 2006 the Ward Sisters Charter was launched. The Charter reinforces the role of Ward Sisters in creating a cleanliness culture within the ward environment, and encourages patients and visitors to monitor and report on standards of cleanliness.
9. The Minister also launched Northern Ireland's first regional leaflet for patients and visitors on infection prevention and control in September 2007, entitle 'How you can help us prevent and control infection in hospitals'.
10. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.