Local Initiatives

Showcase Hospitals have been asked to identify a range of technologies and/or products in which they have a specific interest and which they might adopt as a “local” project and undertake a service evaluation to add to our knowledge about what works, how well and by how much. The various projects at this stage are as follows:

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

• An evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of ultra sonics as an aid to hospital cleaning processes

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• A new training and awareness DVD for healthcare staff on the transmission of infection
• An examination of the impact of using laboratory based C. Difficile rapid screening /real time technology when compared to conventional screening methods.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

• A study of the impact and implications for the use of steam cleaning as a cleaning and disinfection methodology on a whole hospital basis

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

• The establishment of a Centre consisting of a representative network of staff from each NHS Trusts in London with an interest and/or involvement in infection prevention and/or hospital cleaning services for learning and sharing of best practice in relation to infection related technology.
• To examine how a better understanding of procurement activities at Trust level might be used to strengthen adoption and diffusion challenges through a new relationship with Procurement for London.
• To undertake a study of challenges to adoption and diffusion issues for HCAI related technologies with 10 NHS Trusts around the country and report on best practice and options for the removal of barriers

The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

• A user evaluation of disposable blood pressure cuff covers.
  • A new web site specifically designed for patients and local citizens to help them better understand issues concerning hospital infection in particular and the opportunities in using HCAI related technologies in general

The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust

• The development of an IT system that allows for a number of infection prevention and management related hospitals systems to be brought together so that information about patients with infections more readily accessed and more comprehensively displayed so doctors and nurse can do their job better.

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust

• A user evaluation of Biopatch – which is a 2% chlorhexidine based infection resistant lines protector – to see what nurses say about it’s use.
• A user evaluation of Med Mat – which is a dressings surface product designed to promote good aseptic techniques. The mat includes sealable waste bag and the incorporation of two distinct layers of material - the first layer is for the removal of the old dressing and cleaning the wound, and the second for dressing the clean wound.
• A ten week evaluation of a hand hygiene awareness campaign called Max4Health or Max Hand Hygiene which is a whole system approach to communication and engagement with all hospital staff seeking to improve hand hygiene levels