Abstract
Feasibility and acceptability of extending Infection Prevention and Control Nursing (IPCN) to weekends at one NHS trust.
Valerie Brueton, Lorraine Mooney, Caaba Beviz, Morloh Kabia, Neil Wigglesworth
Introduction
Infection prevention and control expertise is generally provided during week days with on call support at weekends. Such provision can impact upon the quality of care for patients with infections by e.g. increasing lengths of stay in isolation, and delaying discharge. To examine the feasibility and acceptability of extending IPCN cover to the weekend, we conducted a 6 month pilot of IPCN weekend cover across one NHS trust.
Methods
We recorded the number of episodes of infection prevention and control advice given daily for 6 months prior to the pilot. We also recorded the number of episodes of advice given daily during the six month pilot. In addition we conducted a survey of key stakeholders across the trust to rate: awareness of IPCN weekend cover, value of extending the service, and impact of the extended service on patient flow.
Results
The mean number of episodes of advice given by the IPCN team daily during the pre-pilot phase was 54 on Mondays and 25 from Tuesday to Friday. During the pilot phase 30 episodes of advice were given on Mondays, and 25 from Tuesday to Friday. Stakeholders rated their awareness and value of the extended cover, impact on safety and patient flow very highly. Infection prevention advice and support given during weekends was found useful for making decisions about patient management. Patient movement from isolation to hospital discharge was thought to be improved and this contributed to efficient bed management during infection outbreaks at weekends. There was overall agreement that the IPCN weekend service continue.
Conclusions
The evidence suggests that provision of a weekend IPCN service improves the balance of infection prevention and control workload over the week. The extended services were very highly valued by stakeholders, and there were perceived advantages for infection management, and patient flow at weekends.
Valerie Brueton, Lorraine Mooney, Caaba Beviz, Morloh Kabia, Neil Wigglesworth
Introduction
Infection prevention and control expertise is generally provided during week days with on call support at weekends. Such provision can impact upon the quality of care for patients with infections by e.g. increasing lengths of stay in isolation, and delaying discharge. To examine the feasibility and acceptability of extending IPCN cover to the weekend, we conducted a 6 month pilot of IPCN weekend cover across one NHS trust.
Methods
We recorded the number of episodes of infection prevention and control advice given daily for 6 months prior to the pilot. We also recorded the number of episodes of advice given daily during the six month pilot. In addition we conducted a survey of key stakeholders across the trust to rate: awareness of IPCN weekend cover, value of extending the service, and impact of the extended service on patient flow.
Results
The mean number of episodes of advice given by the IPCN team daily during the pre-pilot phase was 54 on Mondays and 25 from Tuesday to Friday. During the pilot phase 30 episodes of advice were given on Mondays, and 25 from Tuesday to Friday. Stakeholders rated their awareness and value of the extended cover, impact on safety and patient flow very highly. Infection prevention advice and support given during weekends was found useful for making decisions about patient management. Patient movement from isolation to hospital discharge was thought to be improved and this contributed to efficient bed management during infection outbreaks at weekends. There was overall agreement that the IPCN weekend service continue.
Conclusions
The evidence suggests that provision of a weekend IPCN service improves the balance of infection prevention and control workload over the week. The extended services were very highly valued by stakeholders, and there were perceived advantages for infection management, and patient flow at weekends.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 77 |
| Pages (from-to) | s34-35 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Journal of Infection Prevention |
| Volume | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Sept 2017 |
| Event | Infection Prevention Society - Manchester Central, Manchester, United Kingdom Duration: 18 Sept 2017 → 20 Sept 2017 |
Keywords
- seven day working
- infection prevention
- NURSING PRACTICE