Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Independent Review - report recommendations: Scottish Government response

Response to Recommendations from Chapter 8: IPC

Part 3 - The Management and Governance of The IP&C Function In QEUH/RHC

Recommendation 37

37. The scope of the roles an ICD, ICN and IP&C Team involved in a major construction project should conform to the specification laid out in guidance and good practice documents.

Scottish Government's Response

The National Centre will have the role of developing and maintaining guidance to inform the design, build and maintenance of healthcare built environments, including environmental laboratory guidance, to ensure that they are free from avoidable risk. The Scottish Government will write to NHS Chief Executives asking them to ensure that the roles of the ICD, ICN and IP&C Team involved in their construction projects conform to guidance and good practice. We will ask the National Centre to provide assurance that this recommendation is implemented by individual projects. The Scottish Government are working with stakeholders to review the roles and responsibilities of the IPC Team in terms of education and training, workforce requirements and succession planning.

Recommendation 38

38. The IP&C Team should be appropriately involved throughout the life of a project. (8.24.2)

Scottish Government's Response

In July 2015, the Scottish Government mandated the use of the HAI-SCRIBE to ensure that IP&C teams are appropriately involved throughout the life of a project. We will write to NHS Chief Executives reinforcing the importance of this recommendation. The National Centre for Controlling Risk in the Built Environment also have a role in supporting frontline IPC Teams in terms of build projects.

Part 4 - Air Ventilation: Investigation of Links with Incidents of Disease

Recommendation 39

39) ICDs are entitled to express their concerns and have them taken seriously on matters of infection prevention and the built environment. They should work with other stakeholders to develop effective solutions. (8.33.1)

Scottish Government's Response

The Scottish Government will write to NHS Chief Executives asking them to ensure that it is implemented. The Scottish Government will await the conclusions of the current QEUH Oversight Board to see what further national action on escalation matters should be taken.

Recommendation 40

40) All hospitals need to plan and have in place assured air ventilation systems that perform in the way they are intended or designed. (8.33.2)

Scottish Government's Response

The Scottish Government will write to NHS Chief Executives in the new year asking them to ensure that this recommendation is implemented. The National Centre's remit will cover the full lifecycle of all relevant builds, from strategic assessment through to building operations and ongoing maintenance to decommissioning and the Scottish Government will ask it to monitor the implementation of this recommendation by Health Boards as part of its work.

Recommendation 41

41) Without knowing the thresholds for air quality that would quantify and minimise infection risk, we look to general measures: there should be continuing efforts to ensure the performance of the systems in place, assuring air quality for all patients, particularly patients vulnerable to airborne pathogens, and make specific provision for positive and negative pressure facilities for specific groups of patients and nearby patients and staff. (8.33.3)

Scottish Government's Response

The Scottish Government will ask the National Centre to take this recommendation forward.

Part 5 - Management and Governance of IP&C in NHS GG&C

Recommendation 42

42) There should be a fully integrated management structure for microbiology and infection control services, bringing together team leadership, management and accountability. (8.41.1)

Scottish Government's Response

The Scottish Government will include this recommendation in the Oversight Board report.

Part 7 - Health Protection Scotland

Recommendation 43

43 - The National Centre for Reducing Risk in the Healthcare Built Environment will wish to consider the views expressed in this report toward the scope and involvement of national and local IC Teams in projects on the healthcare built environment, and benchmarking good practice. (8.52.1)

Scottish Government's Response

The National Centre is already aware of this report and is working closely with the Scottish Government to address the recommendations identified.

Recommendation 44

44 - The National Centre will also wish to review the content of this report, reflecting on national agency skills, experience and capability matters in the recent past. (8.52.2)

Scottish Government's Response

The National Centre is already aware of this report and is working closely with the Scottish Government to address the recommendations identified.