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NHS sets new infection control objective for C. difficile infection rates
March 31, 2010
The government have introduced a new objective to drive down the levels of C. difficile infections across the NHS. There has already been a significant drop in the levels of infection, down by 35% since 2007. The new objective will require NHS trusts to push levels of infection down further, targeting those with high levels of infection to tackle the problem, but also encouraging trusts with low levels of infection to maintain their rigorous standards. Over three years, the aim is to reduce the levels of C. difficile by 55%.
This objective will be put in place in 2011, and is designed to encourage the progress already made in reducing levels of infection such as MRSA. A target for underperforming NHS trusts to tackle the level of MRSA infections will be imposed from April 2010.
Infection control is paramount in delivering high quality patient care. Janet Davies, the Executive Director for the Royal College of Nursing underlines the importance of staff involvement:
'It is the responsibility of everyone involved in patient care to tackle infections such as C.difficile. Nurses have been involved in setting standards for infection prevention and control and will strive to deliver on this objective. The hard work of nurses and healthcare assistants has already made a difference in reducing the spread of infections, and patients should be confident that wherever they receive healthcare, every effort is made to keep them safe.'
In order to enable staff to monitor infection control effectively, Tortrix have developed a software solution based on the Department of Health Saving Lives delivery programme. The Saving Lives Assessment incorporates the government guidelines for infection control and allows staff to input their own data. This data can then be used to produce graphs and images to review progress. The accessible format can also be used as part of a management or audit tool.
The use of software solutions within the NHS can help to improve infection control in a ward environment by encouraging staff responsibility for patient observations and allowing easy review of targets to be achieved. The Saving Lives Assessment has successfully been implemented at George Eliot Hospital and proved to be 'an invaluable tool' for the staff.
Tortrix works to produce software solutions that empower healthcare professionals to deliver better and safer patient care in an acute hospital environment.
