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Top e-government news, updated daily, and regular features from the top people in the public sector.
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| Ulster Trusts to be monitored on hygiene standards |
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Ulster health trusts are to be monitored on hygiene standards under new Government plans to tackle the spread of superbugs.
The three-year action plan, which will include mandatory training for healthcare workers, was announced by the Health Minister Shaun Woodward yesterday at an international conference on infection control.
Trusts will have to introduce a hand hygiene campaign, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) model, and surveillance programmes will be set up to help identify problems and ensure the spread of infections is contained.
Speaking at the conference in Belfast's Stormont Hotel yesterday, Mr Woodward said: "Healthcare associated infections cause considerable suffering and yet, in many cases, can be avoided.
"I want to see action taken to reduce the impact on patients using our health service. It is everyone's responsibility to improve hygiene standards throughout the health service, including hospital staff, patients and the general public."
International and local experts attended yesterday's Changing The Culture event, including the Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson.
A recent BMA report blamed poor standards of hospital hygiene and high bed occupancy rates for the spread of superbugs.
The BMA stressed that handwashing was a simple yet effective weapon in preventing and controlling infection.
Mr Woodward said: "It is reassuring that some healthcare associated infections are showing signs of a decrease, but we cannot be complacent.
"Improved surveillance is one of the major objectives of this plan, providing the health service with much better mechanisms to assist with monitoring levels and types of infections."
Yesterday, Mr Woodward signed a pledge committing Northern Ireland to providing the highest standards of practice to reduce the risk of infection. |
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