Health Business

£31k grant helps trust in the fight against infection

STAFF from nursing homes across the Boston area are set to benefit from a new training scheme courtesy of Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (LPCT).

Infection prevention and control nurses from LPCT, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and the Health Protection Agency are working together to run a series of training events for staff across the county, and the first took place at Pilgrim Hospital on Monday.

Running the sessions was nurse Wendy Creasey, who said: “We’ve been looking at the causes and effects of infections such as MRSA, clostridium difficile, and diarrhoea and vomiting.”

Sally James, a nurse from White Gables, Kirton, was one of those who attended the course.

She said: “This has been extremely useful for updating staff knowledge on infection prevention procedures – for example, we’ve learned about new waste an management systems that should greatly reduce the risk.

“I’ve just moved to the area so I’ve found the course particularly helpful on a personal level, as it has been interesting to see how different health authorities tackle the issue.”

The scheme consists of one-off half-day sessions which staff leave with a certificate of attendance and the day’s curriculum so they can then teach colleagues back at their place of work.

The initiative is being funded by a £31,000 Government grant.

Janine Rayfield, nurse consultant at LPCT, said: “It is essential all staff in Lincolnshire’s residential and nursing homes have access to good-quality infection control education so staff are fully updated on ways to prevent the spread of infections within the elderly residential population.”