At the peak of its prominence as a political issue around a decade ago, healthcare associated infections were widely held to be responsible for thousands of deaths in the NHS. ONS data shows that on their own, the Staphylococcus Aureus and Clostridium difficile infections were cited in the death certificates of over 8600 English and Welsh NHS patients in 2006. After years of concerted effort to improve the situation including hand hygiene campaigns, hospital ‘deep cleans’ and infection prevention initiatives great strides have been taken in reducing rates of infection by these deadly organisms. Nonetheless, complacency is a deadly mistake.
Public Health England figures released in June show that the number of recorded cases of MRSA for the first quarter of 2015 are up 9% on the same period in 2014. Similarly, C. difficile infections rose by 12% between Q1 in 2014 and Q1 in 2015. These worrying trends were seemingly pre-empted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) who in April 2014 were clear about the risk of letting infection control efforts slip. In unveiling Quality Standard 61, the Institute drew attention to the continuing impact of HAI; 300,000 people get an infection while being cared for within the NHS in England each year and one in 16 people being treated on the NHS picks up an infection. The document places a requirement on trusts and HCPs to redouble their infection prevention and control endeavours in six key areas.
The renewed focus on HAI needs to be seen in the wider context of the pressure on the National Health Service. Even fifteen years ago, before MRSA and C. difficile rose to full prominence the National Audit Office conservatively projected that hospital acquired infections cost the NHS £1 billion per annum. Clearly infection control lapses need to be regarded as one of the burdensome pressures on out health economy that the landmark NHS Five Year Forward View made clear needs to be tackled. The time for action to improve Infection Prevention and Control is now. This inaugural national conference will underline the economic and humanitarian cases for better infection prevention measures to be adopted and continuously improved. It will be a knowledge exchange for Infection Prevention & Control leads and champions from around the country to enhance their ability to succeed in their roles.
9:30 | Chair’s Welcome |
9:40 | Economics of infection in the NHS
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10:00 | QS61 and its associated quality standards and guidelines. What it means for HCPs
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10:20 | The current data on MRSA and C difficle. What does it tell us?
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10:40 | Main Sponsor |
11:00 | Questions |
11:15 | Morning Coffee, Networking & Poster Viewing |
11:45 | Workshop Session 1 |
12:40 | Workshop Session 2 |
13:35 | Lunch, Networking & Poster Viewing |
14:30 | Workshop Session 3 |
15:25 | Afternoon Coffee, Networking & Poster Viewing |
16:00 | NHS England clostridium difficile infection objectives
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16:20 | The human consequences of infection control lapses
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16:40 | Questions |
17:00 | Drinks Reception and Poster Q&As |
18:30 | Conference Close |
We will be inviting delegates to attend from across all areas of the healthcare sector, including the following positions:
Please complete the form below and a member of our Delegates Team will call you back
Travelling to the Brewery by public transport is quick and easy. The venue is close to Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Barbican stations, and served by at least 10 bus routes.
There are no car parking facilities on site at the Brewery. The nearest public NCP car park can be found at the Barbican. There is also limited pay and display street parking available.