Infection prevention and control is among the highest of priorities for the South Eastern Trust. We have a dedicated Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) who take a proactive approach to preventing the spread of infection.
Aims
- Provision of education and support to all staff, patients and visitors
- Surveillance and monitoring of trends of infection and risk
- Support and advice during outbreaks or infection incidents
- Participation in research and innovative practice
- Capital development planning advice
Infection prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility. Germs can be brought into wards and departments by anyone and easily spread to others if infection prevention and control measures are not followed.
How can patients help?
- Wash your hands after using the toilet and before meals. Ask if you need help. Hand sanitiser is also available at the end of each bed
- Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when sneezing or coughing. Bin the tissue and wash your hands
- If you are socialising at another patient’s bed space be sure to sanitise your hands afterwards
- Do not be afraid to ask staff if they have washed their hands and/or changed their gloves before working with you
- Wash/shower daily using your own toiletries. Ask if you need help
- Keep your locker and table top tidy and free from clutter to help with cleaning
- Do not interfere with drips, drains or dressings. Report any problems to staff immediately
- Tell staff if you have any concerns about cleanliness or your care so that they can sort the problem straight away
How can visitors help?
- Please clean your hands when entering the hospital, ward or department. Do so again when you leave.
- Seek advice from the wards manager regarding visiting and hand decontamination if there is an isolation sign on the door.
- Do not interfere with drips, drains or dressings even if the patient asks you to. Simply report any issues to staff immediately.
- Do not visit if you are or have recently been unwell especially with colds/flu or stomach upsets.
- Avoid bringing very young children to visit always ask the nurse-in charge in advance.
- Speak to a member of staff about visiting times
- Do not sit on hospital beds.
- Help the patient keep their locker and table top tidy and clutter free.
- Do not bring fresh flowers or plants.
- If you are responsible for the patient’s laundry please remove it promptly and ask a member of staff if you have any queries on how to deal with it.
- Do not bring fresh food into the hospital for patients unless in exceptional circumstances. Please speak to a member of staff who will advise you further.
- If you have any concerns about cleanliness or patient care please tell staff immediately so that they can sort the problem straight away.
- Please read our Infection Prevention and Control notice boards located in the ward foyers to keep you up to date with changing information and examples of advice leaflets that are available. From time to time information will also appear on the Trust social media or internet page
We are confident that if all our staff and everyone coming into our hospitals follow infection prevention and control guidelines we can minimise the risk of infection.
