Healthcare Associated Infection strategy - second phase deliverables impact assessment: progress report - March 2025

2. Background

In 2016, the Scottish Government published the Scottish Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare Associated Infection 5 Year Strategic Framework (2016 to 2021). This framework can be found here: 5 Year Strategic Framework AMR and Healthcare Associated Infection This Strategic Framework aimed to support an approach to minimise avoidable infections, control HCAIs and contain AMR. The Strategic Framework was designed to support NHS Boards in taking forward key delivery areas such as AMR, cleaning and decontamination, infection prevention and control (IPC), quality improvement, and surveillance.

The onset of the SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic posed a significant challenge in delivering the Strategic Framework. As a result of the disruption caused, and the additional pressures which NHS Boards had to manage, some of the later strategic goals from ‘The Scottish Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection – 5 Year Strategic Framework’ were not able to be fully achieved and implemented as presented in the original timeline.

An interim two-year HCAI Strategy was developed over a condensed period to provide NHS Scotland with a supportive national direction. This strategy was developed by the HCAI Strategy Oversight Board which was chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer and comprised of members from the Scottish Government, expert stakeholders, and Health Boards.