Infection prevention and control

The Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) provides all staff, both acute and community, with comprehensive information on the prevention and control of infection, to ensure high quality care, safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.  

The IPCT service provision is multi-faceted and includes identification, monitoring, investigation and provision of specialist medical and nursing advice in relation to infection prevention and control Trust wide. The team collaborates with partner organisations: UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) formally known as Public Health England (PHE) and NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to inform and share best practice and maintain swift appropriate action in response to emerging infection prevention and control issues. The Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) advises the Board of Directors on all issues relating to Infection Prevention and Control and has delegated responsibility for ensuring that effective systems and processes are in place to minimise the risk of infection across the Trust.  The Infection Prevention and Control Doctor (IPCD) supports the IPCT and DIPC.

The IPCT are committed to effective prevention and control of health care associated infection through the delivery of a strategy which supports the ongoing development of education and training and audit and surveillance.  Attainment of DH mandatory targets for MRSA, Clostridium difficile infection and Gram negative bloodstream infections remain a high priority.  

Infection Prevention and Control guidelines, procedures and policies are available to all staff on the Intranet to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection and ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (updated 2015).  Leaflets are available for patients, carers and staff to provide information on specific infections / treatment regimes.