Infection Prevention and Control

All NHS Organisations must ensure that they effective systems in place to control healthcare associate infection. At Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital we are committed to reducing avoidable healthcare associated infections and providing a clean, safe environment for our patients, their relatives and our staff.

Infection Prevention Team Contact Details

If you wish to contact any member of the ‘infection prevention and control team’ please telephone 0151 600 1326 or 0151 600 1057 during office hours.

Hand Hygiene

Patients and visitors should use the specially provided hand sanitisers when entering and leaving the ward. The gel dispensers are located on the wall at the entrance to each ward and are on patient’s locker.

Staff routinely wash their hands with soap and eater, or use a hygienic hand rub, before caring for a patient. They will not be offended if you ask them if they have cleaned their hands before attending to your needs.

Cleanliness

The Trust has a monitoring system in place to ensure high levels of cleanliness. If you have any concerns about the ward environment or cleanliness, please speak to the ward manager or department manager for that area. The Trust will value all feedback.

In order to reduce clutter and assist ward staff in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness please bring in essential items only and try to keep patients’ belongings in the designated locker.

Food

Non-perishable items of food can be brought in for patients. Other food must be prepared following good food hygiene principles. It must be stored correctly in transit to the hospital and consumed immediately. Please do not go into the ward kitchens.

Visiting Hospital

• If you have had diarrhoea and or vomiting, you should be symptom free for at least 48hours before you visit.
• If you have a heavy cold, flu-like symptoms or a chest infection, stay away until the symptoms go away. This is particularly important if you are visiting the Critical Care unit.
• Some infectious conditions for example chicken pox, shingles and mumps may be a problem to patients, especially those with a vulnerable immune system. If you have been in contact with somebody who has a communicable infection it may best if you do not visit other patients. If you are unsure or need advice, please contact the ward staff or Infection Prevention nurse before you visit.
• If you have any open wounds, a clean, waterproof dressing should be used to cover them.
• Please stick to visiting times and the number of visitors allowed (speak to the nursing staff if there are specific requests around visiting. Visitors should refrain from sitting on patients beds as this may add to the risk of cross infection as well as damaging the mattress.
• In the event of an outbreak visitors should follow all guidelines and advice given by staff.
   

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics are essential medicines for treating bacterial infections in both humans and animals however they are losing their effectiveness at an increasing rate. 

Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antibiotic. They become ‘antibiotic resistant’ so that the antibiotic no longer works. The more you use an antibiotic, the more bacteria become resistant to it. 

Antibiotics should be taken as prescribed, never saved for later or shared with others; it is important we use antibiotics in the right way, the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time for the right duration. Appropriate use of antibiotics will slow down the development of antibiotic resistance.

There are very few new antibiotics in the development pipeline, which is why it is important we use our existing antibiotics wisely and make sure these life-saving medicines continue to stay effective for us, our children and grandchildren

To find out more information about this please visit the Antibiotic Guardian website.

Information for Patients and Families