New Strain Respiratory Virus Policy - Hampshire Hospitals NHS ...

Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust
New Strain Respiratory Virus Policy
Key considerations are: hand washing and scrupulous attention to
containment of respiratory secretions, cohorting of affected and nonaffected
patients, restriction of ill workers and visitors and education of
staff, visitors and patients. This is dealt with in more detail in the CP062
Pandemic Influenza Plan (on the intranet) and readers are urged to
consult the most recent web based guidance from the DOH – see
References. A link will be provided from the Trust intranet site.
22 TRAINING
All clinical staff are required to have annual infection control updates via
mandatory training days, e learning or workbooks. Line mangers have a duty
of care to ensure that all staff annually receive infection control updates. The
line manager keeps a record of staff attendance on the training matrix. Each
member of clinical staff keeps his/her own records of attendance at study
sessions within their portfolio. It is the responsibility of individuals and their
line managers to ensure attendance at training. The Training Department
feeds back on non attendance to line managers and it is their responsibility to
follow up non attenders and ensure their subsequent attendance.
Please see CP072 Training policy for employees of WECHT in infection
control for more information.
If staff do not attend, compliance with infection control training must be
reviewed at their appraisal and prompt training arranged.
E-learning for infection control is an acceptable alternative on alternate years
once face to face induction is completed. E learning is accompanied by
certification which can be used in evidence at appraisal.
Specific training on new pandemic strain virus will be provided by the Infection
Control team to be cascaded to all clinical staff when a new strain is identified.
Specific information will also be provided as it is released by the Department
of Health or the Health Protection Agency.
All clinical staff who work in high risk areas A/E, EMAU, respiratory /
Shawford ward, ITU, paediatric / Northbrook ward and respiratory
physiotherapists are expected to have at least annual mask fit testing to
ensure they are ready to attend to any case of new strain respiratory
virus/influenza.
23 MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
THIS POLICY
In an era of quality improvement it is important to use performance indicators
in order to evaluate practice and make improvements when necessary.
Authorities
Document Control Information
Author: Sue Daiilly Lead Nurse Infection Type:
Policy
Control
Sponsor: Paula Shobbrook Director of Infection Scope:
Major
Prevention and Control
Reference:
CP104
Issue Number: 2
Date May 2010 Status: Final
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