Department of Health publishes draft code of practice on health care
associated infection
Proposals to help NHS bodies reduce and control health care associated infection were published by the Department of Health last week.
The “Draft
code of practice for the prevention and control of healthcare associated
infection” sets out the requirements for managers of
NHS organisations and other health care providers to ensure that patients
are cared for in a clean environment.
The code says that systems should be in place to address issues such
as the design and maintenance of the environment and medical devices,
access to accredited microbiology services, clinical leadership, application
of evidence-based protocols, and education, information and communication.
The code is presented under three headings — management, organisation
and the environment; clinical care protocols; and health care workers — with
each section containing core requirements to meet a specified duty of
care.
The final version of the code is due to be published on 2 October. Failure
to comply with the code may result in an improvement notice being issued.
The code will also form part of the Healthcare Commission’s annual
healthcheck from April 2007. |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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