The RCN, through the professional lead for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), provides visible and clinical leadership in support of Infection Prevention and Control and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In addition to our strategic activity, we work to ensure that any resources we develop add value to our members and stakeholders, do not duplicate existing available information, complement the work of others and are quality assured.
The RCN hosts a generic IPC Network which supports the delivery of RCN focused projects or resources involving the prevention of infection. A new IPC network to support nurses and others working with Children and Young people (CYP) was launched in 2017. Additionally, the RCN is actively involved in strategic work programmes and stakeholder or expert reference group meetings to influence and develop policy on Healthcare Associated Infections, and AMR for all countries of the UK. This work closely aligns with RCN activity supporting patient safety, quality improvement and sepsis recognition and management.
Specific examples of current, strategic work we are undertaking or supporting that impacts on the prevention of infection includes:
• Developing a new professional development course to support education in infection prevention and control (commences November 2018)
• Supporting the Care Quality Commission (England) in the development of its new regulatory framework and inspection programme through its co-production programme
• NHS Improvement Prevention of Healthcare Associated Gram-Negative Blood Stream Infections programme
• Influencing and supporting the implementation of the Future Operating Model (FOM) in England and procurement of products and consumables – see Small Changes Big Differences
• Membership of the European Network to Promote Infection Prevention for Patient Safety (EUNETIPS)
• High Consequence Infectious Disease planning.