Showcasing HCAI technology

In the May issue of this bulletin, we highlighted the programme’s Design Bugs Out project. Its aim is to speed up the development and adoption of new technologies to help combat HCAIs, especially MRSA and C.difficile, by making hospital furniture and equipment quicker and easier to clean.

Seven showcase hospitals across the country featured some of the Design Bugs Out prototypes in May.

NHS staff can still visit these sites to speak to the dedicated project nurse, see new technologies in use and discuss their benefits.

Calderdale and Huddersfield showcase hospital has implemented a range of new products and initiatives designed to reduce HCAIs, including skin disinfectants, bowel management systems and ultrasonics for pre-cleaning medical equipment.

The hospital’s Project Nurse Jean Robinson explains how they evaluate the tools’ effectiveness. ‘We conduct staff surveys and patient interviews to assess the impact each product has on reducing HCAIs. We’re also looking to find out if staff have any problems using the products and what patients thought of them, especially in terms of preserving their dignity.

Feedback from both staff and patients has generally been positive, but implementation is not always a straightforward process. ‘Some new technologies require
staff to be trained to use them and the companies who develop them have been very supportive of that,’ says Jean.

‘As well as implementing products from the HCAI technology innovation programme, we research and test other technologies we think might work, such
as the ultrasonic cleaning process.

‘We welcome visits from nurses from other trusts to see what we’re doing, so they can introduce the technologies in their own hospitals.’

Help is at hand

The overall aim of the showcase hospitals is to help NHS decision makers and budget holders target their infection control investments to the latest, effective technologies, for better results and better value. To help them in this process, ready-made adoption business cases will be produced for a range of HCAI products.

The dedicated showcase hospitals website covers all aspects of the technologies, their benefits, barriers to implementation and practical advice for infection prevention professionals.

The first showcase report - on the Bardex IC silver-coated catheter - can be accessed from the site. This is a silver alloy catheter coated with hydrogel, which was developed to improve the patient experience and reduce the risk of catheter associated urinary tract infection.