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National Standards for Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections

Frequently asked questions on the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

1. What are Healthcare Associated Infections?
Healthcare Associated Infections are infections that can be caused by micro-organisms, such as MRSA, Clostridium difficile or Staphylococcus aureus, which can be acquired as a result of treatment in a healthcare facility.

2. What are the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections?
These 12 Standards are the National Standards which provide guidance and direction to all health and social care service providers and are based on national and international-based best practice.

3. What status do these National Standards have?
They are mandatory for all public health and social care facilities under the Health Act 2007. Although the Health Information and Quality Authority does not have a remit over all healthcare facilities, the Authority strongly encourages all providers and relevant indemnity and reimbursement organisations to take full account of these Standards.

4. Why have they been developed?
They have been developed to help prevent and reduce the number of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) so that people using health and social care services receive safer and high quality care.

5. How will these new Standards reduce Healthcare Associated Infections?
They are designed to promote an environment that maximises patient safety, quality and accountability in health and social care services. Importantly, they drive a culture of responsibility and accountability among all staff involved in the management and delivery of health and social care services.

6. How were these Standards developed?
These National Standards are based on best practice and were developed following extensive consultation, such as with service users, providers and the public.

7. Who do these Standards apply to?
These Standards have been designed to apply to all health and social care services in Ireland. This includes, but is not limited to: acute hospitals, dentistry services, community hospitals, home care services, residential care, health centres and general practitioner (GP) services.

8. Who is responsible for implementing these Standards?
The chief executive or equivalent of the service is ultimately responsible for the implementation of these Standards. However, it is important to note that all employees within health and social care services have a role to play in their implementation. Likewise, the public and users of our services also have a significant role to play.

9. How can I play my part in reducing Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs)?
Good hand-washing practices are essential in reducing HCAIs. Also, if you are aware that you or a family member or has a HCAI, you should tell staff as soon as possible if attending healthcare facilities and ideally before attending, for example an outpatient clinic or on admission to hospital. Further advice and guidance is provided on the Health Protection Surveillance Centre website. See www.hpsc.ie.

10. How will these National Standards be monitored?
The Health Information and Quality Authority will actively engage with healthcare providers in relation to the implementation of the Standards. This will include a six-month period to allow services to develop local implementation plans. Subsequently the Authority will require services to undertake a self-assessment process to determine their level of compliance against these Standards. A detailed follow-up review programme will subsequently be undertaken which will focus on priority safety issues.

11. What happens when organisations do not reach the Standards required?
The Health Information and Quality Authority will advise the Minister for Health and Children and the Health Service Executive on its findings. The Authority will publish all of its findings on how organisations are complying with the Standards.

12. Will there be penalties for not reaching the Standards?
Subject to the introduction of legislation on licensing, the National Standards will be incorporated into a national licensing framework which will include penalties for non-adherence.

13. How will I know if the service I am attending is complying with the Standards?
The Health Information and Quality Authority will publish the findings of all assessments which are undertaken by the Authority against these Standards. The Authority also encourages service providers to publish their compliance with Standards on a national basis.

14. What is the best way for me to clean my hands?
Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water is the best way to clean your hands. If the facilities are not there for you to wash your hands, you should use alcohol-based hand-rub that should be provided in your healthcare organisation. All healthcare organisations should have informative posters displaying instructions of the appropriate way to clean your hands. You can also ask a healthcare professional to demonstrate to you.

15. Where do members of public report complaints in relation to hygiene?
If you or members of your family have a concern in relation to hygiene or any other matter, this should be brought to the attention of the manager or staff of the service that you are attending. You should follow your service provider’s complaints procedure during or after your attendance.

16. Is there a register that I can check infection rates or healthcare associated infections before accessing a service provider?
Service users can ask their healthcare providers for information on their infection rates. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre, which over-sees communicable Healthcare Associated Infections, publishes reports on certain infection rates on the acute hospital sector. See www.hpsc.ie.

17. Do these standards replace the National Hygiene Services Standards?
The existing National Hygiene Services Standards will continue to be monitored by the Health Information and Quality Authority in 2009. Subsequently the Authority will monitor hygiene services as part of the monitoring of the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

18. Can non-clinical staff implement these Standards and do they need special training?
The majority of these Standards relate to practical, organisational or cultural factors which should be straightforward to implement with appropriate behaviours, planning and leadership. Services need to determine staff training needs for the implementation of these Standards.

19. What further guidance in relation to these National Standards will be provided from the Health Information and Quality Authority?
The Health Information and Quality Authority has produced an easy to read version of these Standards. The Authority proposes to engage with the Health Service Executive and other key stakeholders to discuss the nature and scope of internal monitoring processes.

20. What audit tools are available to measure compliance against these National Standards?
There are a number of international and national audit/assessment tools available that can be adapted by all health and social care services to support the process of evaluating compliance against these National Standards.

21. Will the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections be reviewed?
Yes. The Health Information and Quality Authority will review these National Standards within three years from their publication.