BASINGSTOKE and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust has received £300,000 of funding from the Department of Health to improve the Trust's infection control facilities and, in particular, to reduce Clostridium Difficile infection. According to head of communications, Gina Hanafin, the funding represents a significant investment for improving infection control in the hospital, which is used by patients from the Basingstoke, Alton and Bordon areas. The money will be used to upgrade patient facilities and to buy new items that will greatly improve reduction in hospital infection rates. With all visitors already reminded to use the "spirigel" alcohol hand rub at all times on entering and leaving the hospital, the trust figures for both MRSA and Clostridium Difficile have shown a significant reduction in the last year. MRSA infections were reduced by 78 per cent this year and Clostridium Difficile infection rate in patients over the age of 65 years showed a reduction of 10 per cent. Projects will include: l The upgrate of 29 patient toilets. l A new linoleum floor in the Rotherwick (cardiology) suite, eye department and ground floor paediatric unit corridor. This type of flooring is easier to maintain and keep clean. l Two single rooms in the paediatric ward will be upgraded to include en-suite facilities. The rooms will be used by patients needing infection control. l New technology will facilitate the installation of "presence detection" switches in 29 toilets. l Hygenic warning "Wipe hands before meals" messages are to be displayed on the outer cellophane wrappers of hand cleansing towlette packs. l Mobile decontamination stations are to used with soap based cleansing wipes which are known to clean the hands better than alcohol, for resistant infections like C Difficle and Norovirus. Separate specialist cleaning equipment will be used for special situations where deep cleaning is required. l The trust has purchased two new surrogate scopes to help in monitoring of decontamination standards of endoscopes. l A more effective computer database system will enable the trust to use information to monitor, track and manage patients with infections. l The hospital is to purchase a computer based pharmacy system to facilitate close monitoring and management of the use of antibiotics. Prudent use of antibiotics is said to be at the heart of fighting hospital acquired infections. Consultant microbiologist Dr Fatima El-Bakri said: "Improving infection control standards and practices is of the highest priority. "It is everybody's business and we all have a role to play in fighting this problem, both patinetns and nursing staff, especially with regard to handwashing and hand hygiene. "Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust is absolutely delighted to receive this allocation of funding. "And we now look forward to fully implementing all these new initiatives over the coming weeks to help us improve further."
