Confident we are clean and safe

We know that one of our patients’ top priorities is to be treated in clean and safe hospitals. Coming into hospital can be a daunting experience, and it’s important that our patients can be confident, not only in the clinical care they receive but in the environment in which they receive it. This is why infection control is a key objective for us.

Watch our video on hand hygiene and how you can help to reduce the spread of infections in our hospitals.

Infection control

The control of infections is a constant fight, and one in which our infection prevention and control team have a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and are ever vigilant.

MRSA screening

All emergency admissions and patients admitted for planned or day case procedures are screened for MRSA, except for those exempt under Department of Health guidance.

Zero tolerance

We have a zero tolerance approach to poor hand hygiene for all staff who work in clinical areas. Our infection control staff actively monitor the number of such staff complying with this policy through regular audits. 

National involvement

Dr Jean O’Driscoll, Director of Infection, Prevention and Control, was a member of the UK Department of Health working group on prevention and control of C. difficile. This group produced national best practice guidance for use by the NHS as a whole, and Dr O’Driscoll’s experience and expertise is widely sought-after. She is currently Honorary Secretary of the European Study Group for C. difficile, which publishes European-wide guidelines on the control of this infection.