Infection Prevention and Control

Healthcare Associated Infection

A Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) is an infection that may affect people when they are receiving healthcare.  People mainly acquire infections in hospitals, but they can also get them in care homes, doctors’ surgeries, health centres and even at home if they are being cared for there. Available through this site, you will find general information on Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) and NHS Orkney’s commitment to reduce infections ensuring our patients receive safe care.

NHS Orkney’s Infection Prevention & Control team regularly work with members of the public and have developed an Infection Prevention Programme; based on National recommendations and standards.

Members of the public and visitors to The Balfour can help us to control and prevent the spread of infection by following these simple tips:

• The Infection Prevention and Control team would advise where possible not to visit relatives or friends in hospital if you or someone you live with is unwell.If you are unsure please contact the ward / department prior to visiting.
• Please clean your hands using the soap and water or the alcohol gel provided at department entrances or the dispensers on the end of the bed on arrival and departure.
• Always ask staff for advice before you bring food or drink into hospital for a patient.
• Please do not sit on patients' beds and use the visitor chairs provided. From an infection prevention and control point please do not touch patient dressings, drips or other equipment around the bed.
• The Infection Prevention and Control team would like your feedback if you feel that our NHS premises are not as clean as they should be and let the nurse in charge on the ward know at the time.
• Patients and visitors are encouraged to highlight if a healthcare worker has not cleaned their hands prior to offering care.
• Staff will provide any special ongoing information regarding infection prevention for patients and their families/visitors.

Meet the Infection Prevention and Control Team                                         

• Healthcare Associated infection Executive Lead - Mrs Sam Thomas
• Dr Becky Wilson – Consultant Microbiologist and Infection Prevention & Control Doctor
• Infection Prevention & Control Manager - Sarah Walker
• Infection Prevention & Control Nurse Specialist - Catherine Edwards
• Infection Prevention & Control Nurse - Kelly Laing-Herridge
• Infection Prevention & Control Practitioner - Jennifer Watt

What is a healthcare associated infection?

This is an infection that people might get when they are receiving healthcare in hospitals. They may also get infections in care homes, doctors’ surgeries, health centres and at home if they are being cared for there.

How many people get a healthcare associated infection?

Around 5 out of 100 people in hospitals will have a healthcare associated infection at any time. Most of the time these infections have no long-lasting effects.

Why do people get an infection when receiving healthcare?

Being ill or getting treatment can make your natural defences to infection (immune system) weaker than usual. Most people won’t get a healthcare associated infection while they are being treated but it is impossible to completely remove all the risk during healthcare. This is because every disease or condition, procedure and sometimes medication can reduce your natural defences against infection.

What type of germs cause infections?

Most are caused by germs that live normally on our bodies and usually do us no harm. But they can cause infections in people who are weaker than usual because of their illness or treatment.

What happens if I get a healthcare associated infection?

The health and social care staff looking after you will talk to you about the care and treatment you need.

What can I do to stop infections from spreading when visiting a hospital or care home?

• DON’Ts

Don’t visit relatives or friends in a hospital or a care home if you have a cold or feel unwell. If you have sickness or diarrhoea, you should not visit until two days after you feel better.

Don’t sit on the person’s bed and don’t bring too many visitors at once.

Never touch dressings, drips, or other equipment around the bed.

Do not use patient toilets.

• DO’s

Wash and dry your hands before you visit a hospital or care home, particularly after going to the toilet. If there is hand gel at the ward door or at the bedside, use it before and after visiting.

Ask staff for advice before you bring in food or drink for someone you are visiting.

If you are worried or unsure about anything, please talk to the person in charge of the ward or department.

Link for Information for the public – Healthcare Associated Infections (July 2019) can be found here.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) HAI Standards / HEI Reports

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards

The prevention and control of infection throughout healthcare is everyone’s responsibility and is a major component in the drive towards a safer NHSScotland.

These Standards are one part of the drive for a safer NHSScotland, so should be seen as complementary to HAI and patient safety work undertaken by other bodies, e.g. Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP). These Standards for HAI apply to all healthcare environments in which patients are treated.

Read more about HIS HAI Standards.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland - Inspection Visits

NHS Orkney Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) reports: Nov 2015, Apr 2014, Apr 2013, Aug 2012, Aug 2010, Jan 2010.

How are the teams involved in reducing HAI within healthcare?

NHS Orkney believes that every person should receive the best healthcare possible every time they come into contact with this health service. To achieve this the team are currently involved with Health Improvement Scotland to work on reducing risks associated with urinary catheters.

The aim is to reduce urinary catheter usage with the overall aim of further reducing urinary catheter associated infection (CAUTI) and their potential risks.

Health Protection Scotland Patient and Public Information leaflets

These leaflets offer general advice on prevention of infection whilst in care settings are available in alternative languages.

Further infection specific information is available through NHS Inform or Public Health Scotland