 |
 |
 |
|
  |
  |
   |
  |
  |
|
Faq's
Basic questions.
The following questions are basic and can be adapted to whichever situation suits individuals going through similar experiences on trying to gain answers from the NHS.
This list is not extensive and may not even cover what you feel the need to ask, but it has been based on the experiences of those who have been and are still going through the complaints system, because either they or their loved ones contracted a Healthcare Infection.
It has been widely broadcast by the Dept of Health that these days most Trusts have a policy of screening patients prior to admission for elective procedures. Most trusts also screen patients who have to be transferred to ICU.
Q. Does the Trust normally screen Patients
Q. Was this Patient screened?
If the result came back that the patient tested positive on screening
Q. What procedures have been put in place?
At this stage, testing positive on pre-op assessment for MRSA would generally indicate colonisation rather than infection and the Trust concerned should be prescribing lotions/creams to help de-colonise before the elective procedure can take place. If the contraction takes place in the hospital the question you need to be asking is:
1)
When was the patient screened?
2) How long before the results were known?
3) What precautions were put in place? (i.e. isolation)
4) What information about the infection was relayed to the
patient and their family?
5) What was the strain of this infection?
6) Are the infection control team accessible to the patient
and their family?
These next set of questions really apply after sadly you have found out that your loved one may have contracted a Healthcare Infection after you have obtained the medical records so these questions again could be adapted to suit what would be most applicable to individual needs.
The Code of Practise (Oct 2006) now also gives more authority to raise more question of the Trusts in question because the Code of Practise is mandatory and it can be found in PDF format on our website.
1a)
Are all clinical staff trained in infection control and aseptic techniques
for invasive procedures?
2a) Why were we not informed about the infection?
3a) What medication was given to the patient?
4a) Why was the infection not mentioned on the Death Certificate
as in accordance with the guidance for writing up MCCD’s
regarding Healthcare Associated Infections?
(this guidance can also be found
in PDF format on our website)
5a) Was information regarding the patients infection shared with
the Primary Care Trust and any other healthcare
teams or agencies?
6a) Does the trust have an information leaflet that outlines any
precautions to protect patients and visitors?
7a) What does the infection control policy within the trust contain?
8a) Does the Trust have a computer system in place whereby clinical
staff have access to laboratory results and are all relevant
staff trained to use this system?
9a) How is compliance with infection
control procedures audited?
10a) How is compliance with hand hygiene audited?
11a) Does the Trusts Housekeeping manual reflect the latest changes in
cleaning practises and are the cleaning staff trained in
accordance to the Trusts Infection Control Policy?
This last section could be applied to specific types of patients; immunocompromised* and at risk from infections
Diabetic
Patients ~ does the Trust have policies in place for the management
of diabetic patients who may be immunocompromised* and at risk from
infections.
Cancer Patients ~ does the Trust screen patients
prior to prescribing chemotherapy or radiotherapy/palliative or
curative treatment.
Does the Trust ensure that if a cancer patient has
tested positive for an infection that the results and record of notes/medication
are passed to oncology to ensure that they are aware of any
complications
with any reaction of medications.
Does the Trust signpost patient and their carers
to support agencies specific to the patient needs such as Cancer
Backup, National Concern for Healthcare Infections (NCHI) or CRUISE
* Immunocompromised means lacking a fully affective immune system. Things that can impair the immune response such as, diabetes, old age, Impaired circulation, making a patient susceptible to infections by Micro-organisms that do not affect normal healthy people.
N C H I January 2007
|
