Nigel Edwards, Policy Director, NHS Confederation

The NHS has made great strides in tackling Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), cutting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections in half and reducing Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections. In doing so, the NHS has saved patients from avoidable harm and made services better.

The latest results of the Care Quality Commission Annual Health Check also highlight the great strides that have been made in tackling the levels of MRSA and C. difficile. This demonstrates that the ongoing commitment of NHS staff is having a positive impact on reducing the prevalence of HCAIs and that the NHS currently complies with the existing Code of Practice on the prevention and control of HCAIs.

Good management and organisation are crucial in establishing high standards of infection prevention and control. The systems for the prevention and control of infection need to address physical elements like estate and equipment along with leadership, communication, education and training. Underpinning all of this, we need constant vigilance from frontline staff, managers and trust boards.

We also know that yet more could be achieved by learning from those organisations – in the NHS and in other countries – with the most effective systems for dealing with all infections. There needs to be more attention to spreading good practice work across the NHS and sharing information across sectors. Spreading good practice and innovation has been a long-standing issue in the NHS and is not limited to infection control.

Nevertheless, we are learning that tackling HCAIs for the long term means applying effective prevention and control of infection in the normal practice of all care providers. It is important to work across the healthcare system and gain control within each facility and between providers.

Infection is often a cause of illness in care home residents and may result in avoidable admissions to hospital. There is a current consultation on policy guidance to extend the Code of Practice to cover NHS, independent healthcare and adult social care sectors. The draft guidance has useful pointers and clear guidance for issues that providers may face bringing about the changes in day-to-day practice that will pay off in terms of improved patient care and cost-effectiveness. 

Regardless of the challenges of implementing guidance such as that in a new code, as a health community it is imperative that we recognise that infection control, as with other patient safety issues, is a precondition for delivering high-quality care. By fostering a healthy culture of communication and cooperation within hospitals and care homes we can make a significant contribution. Given its profile and importance to patients and service users, there is no alternative but to work collectively to build on achievements in tackling infections now and in the future. The benefits will not only be seen in fewer infections, but also in the ability of different care providers to work together, using the expertise of staff to solve other shared problems. This will not only be better for patients, but also better for the taxpayer. Such joint working will therefore be vital if the NHS is to improve services and weather the oncoming storm of its £20bn spending squeeze.