Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSInfection control nurses win at Nursing Times awards
Infection control nurse Deborah Barry and her colleagues from the Royal Free Hampstead Trust were named as winners in the Infection Control category at the Nursing Times awards last week.
The roles within the infection prevention and control team were focused to deliver a more effective service for both patients and staff.
The team introduced an infection control practice educator, to provide support and role modelling for staff at the bedside, and an infection control patient liaison nurse role to ensure patients have a dedicated specialist available to address individual care needs.
Deborah Barry said: “This raises confidence in the healthcare system, reduces anxiety and promotes ownership by clinical staff in their care practices.”
These infection control specific roles are now embedded within the trust and have been a significant factor in the reducing infection rates.
“This long-term initiative is a great example of partnership working,” said the judges. “There is evidence of staff acceptance of the role of the infection control and practice educators and patient liaison nurse and the roles have improved public confidence in infection control practice. These nurses are not seen as part of an enforcement team, but rather as a team that supports nurses in practice.”
The Infection Control award was sponsored by JohnsonDiversey.
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