The new target will require a drop in the numbers of people in hospital with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (including MRSA) of 10% and 20% in cases of Clostridium difficile by the end of March 2009.
As part of the drive to reduce HCAIs the Minister also launched Northern Ireland's first regional leaflet for patients and visitors on infection prevention. A million copies of the leaflet 'How you can help us prevent and control infection in hospitals' will be distributed throughout hospitals in Northern Ireland. It encourages staff and visitors to clean their hands on entering wards and provides advice for patients on cleanliness and infection prevention when in hospital.
In addition, Mr McGimpsey has also commissioned a second independent audit of standards of environmental cleanliness in hospitals in Northern Ireland. The audit is due to take place before the end of the year.
Mr McGimpsey concluded: “I am committed to combating the spread of hospital acquired infections. There has been substantial investment of £0.5million per year across the health service to ensure that the highest levels of hygiene and clinical excellence are maintained.
“Important initiatives and strategies have been introduced to help reduce the rates of infection and improve cleanliness in our hospitals and since 2002 trusts have been required to carry out mandatory surveillance of MRSA bacteraemias.
“Even though we already have the best infection prevalence figures for any part of the UK, we want these to reduce further. We will never be able to eradicate HCAIs completely but we must ensure the rate of infections does not increase.
“A great deal has been achieved already by hardworking staff in Trusts, but more effort is required if we are to meet the high expectations of the Northern Ireland population. Reducing infection is everyone’s responsibility – the public too have a part to play by taking simple measures such as hand-washing or staying at home if you have a cold. These new targets are tough but I am confident that we will rise to the challenge and continue to drive down infection rates.”
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Notes to Editors:
Photo Opportunity: Minister will announce these targets at Ulster Hospital at 2pm today, Tuesday 11 September 2007.
- 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.
- The DHSSPS Service Delivery Unit will work with the Trusts and the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centres to establish appropriate performance monitoring arrangements.
- The new target will require a drop in the numbers of people in hospital with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (including MRSA) of 10% and 20% in cases of Clostridium difficile by the end of March 2009. The baseline for measuring these reductions is to be the year 2006/7.
- Surveillance is an important tool in the fight against infection, since April 2002 DHSSPS has made the surveillance of MRSA bacteraemias mandatory for all Trusts.
- The Changing the Culture action plan on the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections which was published in March 2006. It requires Trusts to hold a hand hygiene campaign and produce an annual infection reduction plan.
- On 10 October 2006 Minister launched the Ward Sisters Charter. 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.
- In October 2005 a three-year strategy to improve the standard of cleanliness in Health and Social Services (HSS) Trust facilities was published. 'Cleanliness Matters Strategy’ encourages Trusts to take a new approach to cleanliness through the development of a 'cleanliness matters' culture Implementation of these principles will allow Trusts to demonstrate that their facilities are clean and are being kept clean, ensuring that patients have greater confidence about the cleanliness of their hospitals.
