Protecting you from harm

Patient safety is our number one clinical priority. Preventing and reducing healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) maintains a high profile within United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The infection prevention and control team provides a comprehensive service. They work closely with colleagues with the Trust, local authority, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Public Health England and the NHS Trust Development Authority to ensure patients receive clean, safe care. This is achieved through a comprehensive work programme that covers all our hospitals to ensure that we all work together to achieve the Trust objective of preventing, minimising and controlling infection.

The infection prevention and control team:

  • Carry out clinical and environmental audits
  • Provide education and training for all staff
  • Play a key role in outbreak management
  • Conduct surveillance of infections
  • Conduct appropriate investigations which follows the patient’s journey
  • Establish the cause of infection

The Trust’s rates of MRSA bacteraemia and Clostridium difficile infection continue to compare favourably with those in the East Midlands, however we cannot afford to be complacent. Bacteria like to survive and adapt to fight off the effects of antibiotics resulting in antibiotic resistance.

General principles

Our infection rates are reducing and we continue to see year-on-year improvement. We are doing everything we can to prevent and reduce the risk of our patients acquiring an infection during their stay with us, but we need your help. Hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent infection being passed from person to person. Our wards have alcohol hand rub by most beds and it is also available at the entrances to all wards and departments for staff and visitors to use to help stop the spread of infection.

Staff can help protect you by washing their hands or by cleaning them with the alcohol hand rub before and after examining you or providing care. Do not be afraid to ask if they have cleaned their hands. We would encourage you to challenge staff so that they are reminded of the importance of clean hands.

Patients and visitors should use the alcohol hand rub to clean their hands before and after entering a clinical area. You should wash your hands with soap and water:

  • After visiting the toilet or using a commode
  • Before eating or handling food
  • If your hands are dirty
  • Before visiting a patient and again before leaving the ward

If you have any questions about your risk of developing an infection then please speak to a member of the healthcare team looking after you, or ask them to contact the infection prevention and control team.

The 6 Cs

Our nurses and midwives have signed up to deliver the 6Cs, an initiative launched by NHS England to provide compassionate and caring healthcare across all of our hospitals. The Chief Nursing Officer for England launched a three year vision and strategy for nursing, midwifery and care staff to ensure that the 6Cs are at the heart of all nursing and midwifery care.

The 6Cs supports the delivery of the six areas of action defined by the Compassion in Practice strategy:

  • Care
  • Compassion
  • Competence
  • Communication
  • Courage
  • Commitment

The aim is to provide nurses, midwives and care staff with a clear focus for care delivery. It provides a framework based on values so we offer patients the best care possible. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust was one of the first Trusts in the country to sign up to this vision.

Patient information

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Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)