As the colder season approaches, infection prevention experts at Leighton Hospital are reaching out to the community to help mitigate the spread of winter illnesses and safeguard susceptible patients. Emphasizing various easy-to-follow steps for hospital visitors, the infection prevention team at Crewe’s Leighton Hospital is leading the fight against winter maladies. These precautions are deemed particularly crucial to protect the vulnerable demographics including elderly and immunocompromised patients.
The infection prevention and control (IPC) team at Mid Cheshire Hospitals diligently collaborates with medical staff throughout the calendar year to uphold and further these objectives. On 20th October, the IPC personnel hosted an information booth at Leighton Hospital’s Crossroads. Visitors could find various resources offering advice on proper hand hygiene techniques and other preventive measures.
According to Senior Specialist IPC Practitioner, Kay McMeeken, educating the masses about the substantial impact of IPC practices on healthcare is an area of utmost importance. This rationale underscores the relevance of dedicated events like IPC Week for spreading awareness. As per the IPC team’s directives, it is mandatory to have comprehensive infection prevention strategies in place to ward off potential threats to the patient and staff’s health. These measures primarily include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and regular cleaning of medical gear and surfaces.
Concurring with other Trusts nationwide, Mid Cheshire Hospitals predict an increase in hospital admissions due to winter illnesses. The IPC team is actively promoting flu and COVID-19 vaccination among eligible individuals. The team is also preparing to handle a surge in norovirus cases, a condition commonly known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’. They are stressing the importance of tailored preventive practices like self-isolating for a minimum of two days post-symptoms, keeping away from hospitals and nursing homes during this period, and adhering to extensive hand and surface hygiene.
Rebecca Consterdine, the Head of Infection Prevention and Control, remarked that IPC is entrenched in all operational aspects at Mid Cheshire Hospitals. Providing safe, top-quality healthcare partly relies on this substantial foundation. While the prescribed directives may appear straightforward, they are characteristically aimed at disease containment, preserving lives, hastening recovery, and maintaining the hospital as a safe haven for all.