'Changing The Culture' In The North Aims To Drive Down Infections

A new strategy and action plan to reduce and control the spread of healthcare associated infections has been launched by Northern Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.

The 2006 strategy Changing the Culture has been updated in order to further drive down levels of infection across healthcare facilities in the North.

The updated strategy complements the Trusts' action plans on healthcare-associated infection, which include actions to implement all the recommendations from the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority's review of the Northern Trust outbreak of C. difficile.

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: "At the heart of the revised 'Changing the Culture' strategy are the key principles that infection prevention and control is an integral part of healthcare and that it is everyone's responsibility.

"The strategy goes beyond the RQIA recommendations following the Northern Trust outbreak. It also brings together key areas of work that needs to be delivered in order to rapidly reduce infections.

"I take this issue very seriously and have invested heavily in a range of measures to improve the levels of infections in all our facilities. This has included the introduction of a regional hand hygiene campaign; unannounced hygiene inspections; restrictions on hospital visiting; a dress code for health care staff; and a pharmacist for each Trust to promote safer prescribing of antibiotics."

In addition, the Minister said that he had recently announced the setting up of a new team whose role is to drive down infections and improve hygiene standards.

He continued: "Since Changing the Culture was launched back in 2006 there have been many improvements.

"In particular, over the last 18 months C. difficile rates have fallen dramatically by around 40% while MRSA rates have dropped by some 30%.

"This has largely been down to the huge efforts of staff throughout the service who have worked so hard to drive down infection.

"However, while this is welcome we must not be complacent. We must all take responsibility for infection prevention.

"The public too has a role to play. Do not come to hospital if you are feeling unwell; always wash your hands before visiting a sick relative and ensure that you abide by hospital visiting times.

"These simple steps will help us in our efforts to make our hospital clean and safe."