Infection Prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust staff are committed to providing effective prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) to ensure that our patients, carers and families are cared for in a safe, secure and clean environment.

The minimum requirements of any healthcare organisation are:

  • A culture of zero tolerance to Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI)
  • Recognition that HCAI is everyone’s responsibility
  • Robust assurance for HCAI
  • A dynamic and visible Infection Prevention and Control Team

The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team work in partnership with staff and our multi-agency partners to promote best practice in infection, prevention and control and requirements of the Health and Social Care Act (2015).

The team is responsible for a number of functions, some of which are identified below:

  • Providing advice on all aspects of infection prevention and control.
  • Managing increased incidences and outbreaks of infection.
  • Surveillance with regard to incidence of MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
  • Developing and facilitating programmes of education.
  • Operating and delivering an Infection Prevention and Control Link Programme.
  • Undertaking audits in line with local and national standards.
  • Reviewing and advising on building works and facilities.

Key documents

Contact us

Amanda Hemsley
Head of Infection Prevention and Control
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Laura Brown
Senior Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Claire King
Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Faith Tipper
Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Debra Davies
Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Carol Lawrence
Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Eden Miller
Infection Prevention and Control Administrative Assistant
Tel: 0116 295 2320

Address: County Hall, Room 170, Penn Lloyd Building, Leicester, LE3 8TH

Hand hygiene

The best way of preventing infection passing from one person to another is by cleansing our hands. All opportunities to promote hand hygiene to staff, patients and visitors should be considered. The posters below provide information on hand washing and use of hand gels to ensure the correct method is used at the right time. Additional posters to support effective hand hygiene include promotion of ‘Bare Below the Elbows’ and are also available below.

Hand hygiene undertaken by healthcare staff must always be carried out in accordance with the ‘5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’ guidance. Patients should not be afraid to ask healthcare staff if they have cleansed their hands prior to provision of care or treatment.

 

When to wash your hands

You should always wash your hands before:

  • Preparing food
  • Eating
  • Caring for the sick
  • Changing dressings
  • Giving medicines
  • Looking after babies or the elderly
  • Starting work, especially if you are a food handler or health professional
  • Putting in contact lenses

This is not an exhaustive list.

You should always wash your hands after:

  • Handling raw foods, particularly meat, fish and poultry
  • Going to the toilet
  • Touching rubbish/waste bins
  • Changing nappies
  • Caring for the sick, especially those with gastro-intestinal disorders
  • Coughing or sneezing, especially if you are sick
  • Handling and stroking pets or farm animals
  • Gardening, even if you wear gloves
  • Cleaning cat litter boxes / Any other animal waste

This is not an exhaustive list

Preventing the spread of norovirus

To help prevent the spread of viral gastro-enteritis please take particular care with washing your hands by using warm water and soap. This is especially the case before preparing or eating food, after sneezing or coughing, after using the toilet and if you've had contact with anyone who has been symptomatic. Alcohol hand sanitizer dispensers, which are becoming more readily available around most public places, are an alternative if a hand wash basin isn't readily available. However, please remember that soap and warm water is much more effective.

Think of ways that children can be encouraged to wash their hands more thoroughly. An example of this is singing 'Happy Birthday to You' twice through, which takes roughly fifteen seconds and is the amount of time it takes to thoroughly cleanse hands. It is important to encourage this practice as schools are somewhere that infections such as diarrhoea and vomiting can be easily spread. Another way to minimise the spread of viruses is to ensure that children are kept away from school until they have been free from diarrhoea and/or vomiting for 48 hours, if the cause is thought to be infectious.

If you are unwell with symptoms of diarrhoea and or vomiting it is important to keep away from other people as much as you can until you are better. If at all possible you shouldn't visit your GP surgery or hospital, either as a patient or a visitor. Telephone your GP or NHS 111 for advice if the symptoms do not quickly subside or you have additional concerns. In addition to this, if you are visiting people in hospital please refer to the local advice for that area prior to visiting. This will also include not visiting if you have had symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the last 48 hours, have provided care to or had recent contact with others who have had diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the last 48 hours. This includes those who are prone to infection, for example if you are elderly, frail, pregnant, visiting with children or are immuno-compromised.

There is no specific treatment for viral gastro-enteritis apart from letting the illness run its course, however there are some simple infection control procedures to follow:

  • Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
  • Wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet
  • Food preparation for others should be avoided until 48 hours after symptoms have subsided
  • Telephone your GP or NHS 111 for advice if the symptoms do not quickly subside or you have additional concern.

 

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