Health Board collaborates to design out infection
Designing Out Infection
Christine Jeffrey & Karen Roberts
Health Board collaborates to design out infection
The Betsi Cadwalider University Health Board, Glan Clwyd site (formerly North Wales Central NHS Trust) is working towards designing out infection as part of its proactive approach to tackling clostridium difficile (C. diff) and other pathogens across its acute and community hospitals.
It is playing a leading role in the C. diff workstream of the Welsh Assembly Government's 1000 Lives Campaign. This aims to save 1000 lives and avoid 50,000 episodes of harm through a number of patient safety initiatives, including infection prevention in Welsh healthcare over a two year period.
The Health Board has been working with medical products manufacturer Vernacare to develop some of the next generation solutions for hospitals and is a member of the company's Advisory Group.
One of the key new products the Health Board is helping to shape is Vernacare's pioneering new porter's chair, which will be launched this spring.
Said Christine Jeffrey, Clinical Nurse Specialist Infection Prevention and Control: "Infection prevention is everybody's business and we take a collaborative approach that involves all staff, as well as patients and visitors to the hospitals. As such, we involved a multi-disciplinary team in evaluating the prototype of the new porter's chair. This provided the varied perspectives of our colleagues in portering and health and safety, as well as infection prevention and control. Together we were able to provide valuable feedback on the design and influence the final product.
"Historically, medical products have been introduced without multidisciplinary collaboration and the input of infection prevention and control specialists, which can result in lack of standardisation and poor compliance. We are very active in establishing links with suppliers to ensure that the products of the future help design out infection."
The feedback from Glan Clwyd has influenced key changes to the chair, including repositioning the footrest and modifications to the leg extenders, IV attachment, notes holder and rear wheel drive.
Said Jane Kent, New Products Development Manager for Vernacare: "We involve clinicians and other healthcare staff in our product development right the way through from conception to inception and their inside knowledge and expert advice is invaluable. Forward looking Trusts such as Betsi Cadwalider University Health Board are vital in helping us to get every detail absolutely right in introducing quality products that will stand the test of time."
The hygienic new porter's chair is in production and full prototypes will be ready for further evaluation this March. It incorporates an innovative footrest that rises automatically from the floor when the patient is safely seated, requiring no hand contact. The chair's tough metal frame is protected by a smooth, durable plastic body comprising three moulded plastic parts that will withstand chlorine based cleaning and come apart easily for deep cleaning.
