Health and social care - infection prevention and control strategy: vision and priority statements

Foreword by the Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Social Worker Advisor

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is fundamental to safe, high-quality care. Every day across Scotland we see how effective IPC reduces avoidable harm, protects patients, service users and staff, and builds trust in the health and social care services that we all rely on. That is why we are pleased to be announcing this new, long-term national strategy for IPC that will be realised through a series of multi-year action plans.

While healthcare-associated infection policy has historically been focused on care delivered in hospitals, this strategy signals a new era. It is the first strategy of its kind in Europe, leading with an integrated approach that will enable safer environments across our communities, wherever health and social care are delivered in Scotland. Crucially, this strategy recognises that IPC must be person-led and rights-based, building on behavioural science and intentionally designed around the realities of care. It places equal value on leadership, workforce capability, strengthened infrastructure, communication, and collaboration, recognising that effective IPC depends on the strength of the whole system rather than any single setting or profession.

We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge. Health and social care-associated infections (HSCAI) continue to cause significant harm, affecting people’s lives and wellbeing, and increasing length of stays – and the data points to rising infection rates in both hospital and community settings. This strategy responds to that reality with a system-wide approach that builds on the work of the Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) strategy 2023 to 2025, the Infection Prevention Workforce: Strategic Plan 2022 - 2024 and the root cause analysis of COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes (2020). It provides opportunity to align with other key frameworks, such as the Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan, and to respond to learnings from public inquiries, including COVID-19 Inquiries and the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

Our sincerest thanks to the members of the Infection Prevention Control Strategic Development and Oversight Group who have been so generous with their time and expertise during the development of this strategy. We deeply value the dedication and professionalism of our health and social care staff, who deliver high-quality and compassionate care every day. The experience and insight of the health and social care workforce across Scotland will be central to shaping the action plans that bring this strategy to life.

Professor Aisha Holloway

Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland

Professor Sir Gregor Smith

Chief Medical Officer for Scotland

Joanna Macdonald National

Chief Social Work Adviser