Doctors claim major infection control ‘deficiencies’ at region’s hospitals

Research by a group of doctors has found ‘major deficiencies’ around infection control within hospitals in the North West region.

The study looked at trusts’ adherence to Public Health England guidance around limiting the spread of COVID-19 within orthopaedic services.

The study found patients were routinely being allocated to hospital beds before they had been confirmed as covid-negative, “thus allowing spread of COVID-19 not only between patients but also between nursing and medical staff”.

Fewer than half of patients were nursed with the appropriate screens in place, while it was uncommon for doctors to be tested regularly.

Separate statistics published by NHS England suggest almost 20 per cent of new covid cases in North West hospitals from August to December were likely to be nosocomial, meaning they were acquired on the wards.

This was a higher proportion than any other region.

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Source: HSJ (paywalled), 16 December 2020